Living Proof: Trials Cannot Destroy You
I recently wrote about trials, and how our response to trials is what harms us, not the trial itself. here
I want you all to meet my baby sister. Her name is Hannah, and she is an extremely amazing woman.
Hannah has an amazing home, is a brilliant hair stylist, decorates beautiful cakes for our family parties, does the decorating at her church, holds brunches galore and family holidays. She has the family sense of humor “on steroids”, which you wouldn’t understand unless you were one of the girls in our family. But, what I mean by that is that she is just hysterical.
My baby sister is all that.
She also is the mother of a multi handicapped child, my little niece, Addison, who has Campomelic Dysplasia. She has buried two children before Addy who died of the same condition. She also has a little girl, Summer Grace to care for.
Addy needs 24/7 care and is on a ventilator to breathe. Hannah has to stay in many days because it is difficult to bring her out. Her plans are regularly cancelled due to nursing conflicts with Addy’s healthcare providers. She stays up many nights caring for Addy with little to no sleep. And this has been going on for 3 years now. Of course, we all love Addy and would do anything for her. But the point is, her life is not easy, has its ups and downs, and is, at times frustrating and very unpredictable. (not to mention that she has to put up with my brother in law, Jonathan. JUST KIDDING. We love him…really…we do. :))
But can I tell you, that Hannah is a wonderful example of God’s grace in action. Sure, she has hard days. But she has been a shining example of trusting God even when life hurts over and over again. I am so thankful for her example to me, her older sister, of a heart that trusts God and knows that He is working all of this out for our whole family’s good. A mother who lives each day to the fullest, as though it could be the last with her child.( Because, for all of us, it could be our last. We have no guarantees.) Whether we think it is good or bad, and whether we agree or not, our God is good, all the time!
oops, I just realized that it was Beth, not Hannah under the SS tables with my little brother. Hannah would have been a baby if she was born at all at that time.
Too funny, Kristen. Yes, you are right, it was probably Bethy. We did have some fun times, didn’t we?? 🙂
And to think I still pictured Hannah as the little girl hiding under the Sunday School table with my little brother. One of the things I missed most when we moved away was losing touch with your family. Many of my fondest childhood memories happened with the Harju family.
Someone sang “Blessing!” at Church this week, and As a mom of children with disabilities (minor compared to Hannah’s Situation) It really made me think, and encouraged me. Here are the Lyrics, if you’re not familiar with the song.
“Blessings”… Laura Story
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
Thank you , Kristen! Such beautiful lyrics. Made me cry reading them. I know that God knows what is best and is too good to give us anything that would be bad for us. hugs!!
Sarah thank you for sharing this. Hannah with all the talent you have and the beautiful smile you are amazing! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing, Sarah. Hannah spoke at our Ladies Luncheon last month and was a blessing to all. God does provide and never gives us more than we can handle. God bless you both!
Sarah, thanks so much for sharing this.
Hannah, if you’re reading this, thanks abundantly for allowing God to work through you and use you. I wish I knew you (and Addy!) better; you seem a blessing to everyone who knows you.
Hannah is a blessing to all who know her, not just her family. She is an inspiration and an example to even us “older” women.
Yes, Moni. I know she is. And I am not just saying that because she’s my sister. 🙂