Wink from Heaven: To Know

Sunday, April 24, 2011

To Know

Lately Mitchell has been worried about strangers. We talk about it a lot when I'm tucking him in at night. He asks me things like,

"How will I know if a person is a stranger?"

"How will I know if strangers are good guys or bad guys?

"Should I just ask people if they are good strangers or bad strangers?"

"If someone says they are a bad stranger, should I just spit on them?"

To simplify life for Mitchell I usually tell him, "If you ever wonder if someone is a good stranger or a bad stranger come and check with me and I'll always help you to know."

The other night he asked me, "What if Jesus comes and I don't know if he's a stranger or not- what if I don't know he's Jesus?" I answered the way I always do.... "You can come to me and I'll help you to know."

That simple answer has brought Mitchell a lot of peace. It has also made me ask "Am I teaching my children in a way that they will recognize the Savior? Is my example helping them to know Him?"

I want to live up to the confidence Mitchell has- that he can always come to me and I'll help him to know.

To my boys:

I want you to know that we have an older brother, Jesus Christ.

I know He lived on the earth.

I know miracles happen through him.

I know He heals

I know He hears our prayers

I know He understands our hearts

I know He had a personal moment for each of us in the garden.

I know he felt the weight of our sins, sorrows, worries and heart ache.

I know He did it willingly with a heart full of love.

I know He suffered and died at the hands of those who hated him.

I know He forgave them.

I know He is risen.

I know He conquered death.

I know we will never have to say good bye forever.

I know through Him, we can be a forever family.

I know He is anxious to help us repent and be better

I know He is always near.

I know He loves us perfectly.

I know He wants us to follow him.

I know He will keep loving us even when we make mistakes.

I know He will pick us up when we feel broken.

I know He will bring us peace when we feel worried.

I know He is proud of you.

I know He loves you more than even I can understand...

and that's a lot.

I want you to know I am eternally thankful for Him, and I will strive each day to help you know who He is.

Happy Easter!

Love, Mom

7 comments:

The Five Jacksons said...: What a beautiful testimony. I am so grateful I was able to read it on this special Sunday. Thank you!; April 24, 2011 at 8:16 PM
Janene Baadsgaard said...: Oh I love this. Thank you April.; April 24, 2011 at 8:51 PM
Janae said...: thanks for the reminder! I'm so greatful that He lives!; April 24, 2011 at 8:54 PM
The VW's said...: So sweet! Big Hugs!!; April 25, 2011 at 7:55 AM
shirlgirl said...: Just loved that post, April. You are amazing.; April 25, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Angela said...: April you are beautiful inside and out and your boys are lucky to have you <3; April 25, 2011 at 8:36 PM
Lisa Christine said...: A beautiful testimony, indeed.; April 26, 2011 at 11:00 AM

Prayer for Caleb

(written by Caleb's Grandma in her weekly column -2008-)

In my family we have a secret code to communicate our love for each other when we are out in public. We wink. When one of us is about to perform or speak, we look for a family member’s face in the crowd. Then we wink at each other. Closing one eye and winking is our secret code for saying, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

About three years ago, my grandson Caleb was born into our family. He must have known before birth that he would never be able to speak to us because he was born with one eyelid permanently closed. So, he is always “winking” at us, always communicating, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

Caleb has one eye lid permanently closed because he is missing one of his eyes . . . and he is also missing his brain. All the doctors said he would die soon after birth. They were wrong. Caleb is three years old. He is a medical miracle. The doctors say he can’t see, hear, speak, think or move. Those who know and love Caleb understand he has his own unique way of experiencing the world and communicating his love to those around him.

After Caleb was born the hospice people told us to buy a burial plot and continually warned us of his imminent death. We soon learned you can not live well in a state of fear and sadness. We decided we could spend Caleb’s entire life anxious and scared he might die at any moment, or we could celebrate each day we were blessed to have him with us. In the beginning, my daughter April celebrated Caleb’s birthday every week instead of every year with balloons and cupcakes because we simply did not know how long we would have him with us. We stopped the cupcakes after we gained ten pounds, but the celebrating goes on.

We all prayed for a miracle when we first learned about Caleb’s condition. We got one. Caleb’s birth, life and mission have had a deep and lasting impact on our lives. His spirit, eternal identity and most of all the loving, individual relationship he has with each of us is truly a miracle. Because of Caleb we know that each of us has a divine purpose and that the physical body is a sacred gift we should never take for granted. We better understand the worth of a soul and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Caleb’s five year old brother Matthew said, “Grandma. The doctors said Caleb was going to die, but he didn’t. That’s the first miracle I ever saw!”

Sometimes Caleb’s baby brother Mitchell pulls out his feeding tube while they hold hands riding together in their double stroller. Sometimes the only intervention that can get Caleb’s heart rate up is when his older brothers Josh and Matty crawl in his crib, hug him and sing, “I am a Child of God.” ...If you have a moment please offer a prayer for the little boy who has never been able to utter a single word and yet has taught everyone who knows and loves him – all the secrets of a rich and meaningful life.