Right now mommy is having a very hard time in her heart. I am struggling because there is a precious baby that I do not know that is suffering. His name is Easton Friedel. He was born August 23, 2012 with an awful, incurable, painful disease called EB or Epidermolysis Bullosa. He is absolutely a beautiful baby! He is adorable just like you three. A mother could stare at him for hours, like I stared at you perfect little beings.
What I am struggling with, past my inner most desire to control the outcome of his situation, is the commonly used statement "but for the grace of God". I hear it and have even used it stated in reference to an difficult situation someone else is enduring and "but for the grace of God" they are not the ones walking the same path.
It's an innocent comment. I know I've used it. Your GramE has said it and she's one of the most loving, giving, Christian people ever. But I would ask that you do not use it if you reference someone else's woe. See, we do not have more grace than someone else because our burden is different. God does not favor us more because we did not have a child born with a horrific disease. That is simply not how He works. Jeremiah 29:11 says " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." So, God knows exactly what you are going through and what you will go through. It is not by His grace you do not go through something. It is by His plan and His will.
Jeremiah 1:5 says "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." In my breakdown, He made every person unique, special, and exactly what He needs them to be. This precious child my heart laments for, was made set apart for a reason. Easton (Cupcake, your middle name and GramE's first name, but with an i- Eastin) has appointed a prophet to nations. His Facebook page (don't laugh at me if by the time you can read this Facebook isn't around anymore) has thousands of followers for many nations praying for him, wishing him well, begging the Lord that made him to heal him. There are even people that are not Christian pulling for him. It's so beautiful to see people step outside of themselves to love another (myself included- I am not pious).
Let me offer you some examples. Noah was asked by God to build an ark in a time that no one had seen it rain. He wasn't only asked to build it, but fill it with animals. I bet people thought he was nuts! Then, he sealed it and dreadfully had to watch everything and everyone that didn't come aboard disappear. But he was faithful and God spared him and his family. We look at his story today as an example of truly blind faith. Ruth lost her husband in a time where she would have to return to her home country and hopefully find a place to be nothing more than a servant like. But, she followed her mother in law, Naomi, into a foreign country, worked long back breaking hours in a field collecting discarded grains. God blessed her with Boaz, who took care of her and Naomi. More importantly, her faithfulness was rewarded by being in the lineage of Jesus. Talk about amazing! Paul was enslaved. They kept having to change his guards because he would lead them to Christ! Awesome! Jesus was tortured, beaten and hung on the cross and He still begged His Father to "forgive them for they know not what they do".
"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again" Proverbs 24:16. Grace is not what keeps us from suffering like others. It is was keeps us going when we are suffering. "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever" (2 Peter 3:18). We are broken and reformed through trials. We are to use these times to give Him praise and be an example of him. There are people all of the world watching precious Easton's parents and the love and strength they are showing. Yes, they are hurting. No, I cannot begin to imagine the amount and I have no desire to because just a moment of the thought tears me up inside.
Thankfully, Jesus exclaimed "It is finished!" and not "I am finished". Then, three days later He defeated death and arose. How comforting to know that I will get to see my Grandma, Papa Ray, Chalis, Lisa, Courtney, Michael P. and more. Angie will get to cuddle beautiful baby Payton. Melissa will get to squeeze precious Eli. Crystal will hear the coos of Caydn. GramE will get to hug her mommy and grandmother. Pops will get to hug his mom! Dad will get to hug his Papa Gish. I could go on and on.
All this to express the inaccuracy of "but for the grace of God". "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Luke 12:7). "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9).
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven,
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
I love you my beautiful children. I am thankful for the trials we have because they will strengthen us as Christians, children, me as your mommy, and dad as daddy, Cupcake, Sunshine and myself as wives, Little Man and daddy as husbands, as friends, as parents yourselves, as employees, students, and as individuals. Please don't be insensitive to others or ignorant to the belief and faith of God's will, God's timing, and God's plan, even if we beg Him to our very core to change it, just like I do for precious baby Easton.
It's by His grace we are saved, not spared.
all my love,
Mommy
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