*UPDATE - I re-read this note I left for Sarah... it sounds a bit like Sarah is down... I did not mean it in that way. Sarah is a very happy girl. However, her life has changed drasticly from what it was. Her concerns are no longer the same. She gets scared when she is going in her check ups & things. I always tell her, "Oh, I don't want to hear it. You've been through 3 open heart surgeries, a heart transplant, a massive stroke, heart pumps, ect. I think you can handle a little heart biopsy or lab draw or dentist appt or starting a new school year or whatever..."

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My Dear Sarah,

You know I love you, I can say it a million times over. However, you already know how much I love you.

I remember those dark nights spent at the hospital, praying for a miracle. I remember feeling so helpless at times as I watched you go through your illness. Knowing all our lives would be forever changed & trying not to think about the unhappiness that we all may feel at times. I watched as you & your sisters grew apart because their hearts just could not bear seeing you so ill any longer. I remember those months as if they were yesterday. And, I remember the choice our family made to stand on the Solid Rock, Christ Jesus.

I know there are times you feel like everything is just OUT OF CONTROL. When I see you looking down, my heart just wants to fix everything for you. I would give anything if I could change some things in your life. But, I am not God. Only God knows how to walk you through this life and, that excites me! And, I made the choice not to try to fix things but to just love you.

Sometimes we tend to look at what we don’t have, but if we would only focus on the Lord we would know how much we DO have. All the miracles that God has done – they were almost daily when you were in the hospital. Look at all the friends that the Lord brought into our lives. Look at how much closer we have become. And the choices we made to trust the Lord.

Life is about our choices. We choose what we will look at, the good or the bad. We have to choose to keep our eyes on Jesus & let Him clarify our vision & perception about our circumstances. We have to choose to grow in the Lord so we can face tomorrow. We have to choose to forgive those that have hurt us & learn how to love as Christ loves.

Your Christian faith is about your choices. Those who Christ have set free, are fee indeed. We are free to choose. So Franny bananny, I pray that you choose to grow stronger in the Lord & that you learn to live an EPIC life! That you live life to the fullest, as close to the edge as you can (without getting grounded). And, I hope your choices lead you to EPICness!

I pray that the Holy Spirit that lives in you will keep reminding you (and us) about the miracles you’ve seen. I pray that your love for animals will grow stronger as you get older & you will learn how to care for them. I pray you get everything you want (well, almost everything). And, you make the right choices.

 

Every time I hear this song I think of you. Listen to the words; it is from God’s heart to yours. Choose to trust in the Lord at all times, with everything in you. Choose to let the Holy Spirit lead you.

By Your Side

By: Tenth Avenue North