Our niece, Lilly will be nestling into her little Moses basket in Charleston tonight, right alongside her parents and two of her dogs. Tonight is the last night she has to go to sleep with a broken heart. Tomorrow, she is being operated on at MUSC to repair holes in her heart. After five days in the hospital, she will get to come back home with her parents and her healthy heart.
We have prayed tirelessly for the doctors who will operate on Lilly. We have prayed for her parents - for their calm and their patience as they wait to see and hold their baby girl after the surgery. We have prayed for the family that surrounds Eric and Mari - to have the right words to say to help them through this.
God says in Revelation that He will make all things new. He is very specific to not say "I will make all new things." He is not making a new heart for Lilly - but he is making her heart new - just as perfect as she is. He knows the heart he gave her and has the power to heal that heart through the wonders of modern medicine. He is an awesome God. And as scary as I know thinking about the scar on her chest is - I try to see it as a reminder from God about his work. A reminder of his love and grace and mercy. A testimony for Lilly as she gets older and conquers one thing after the other - knowing how far she's come.
We are so in love with our niece and all of our nephews. They make up some really fantastic branches and limbs on our family tree. A tree I am quite sure is unlike any other. A tree whose branches cling to one another and hold each other up when the winds of life blow something fierce. A tree whose branches will blossom with flowers tomorrow - despite the cold winter. I'm pretty sure lilies don't grow on trees - but tomorrow, they will.
In my most Southern of voices but with more sincerity than ever before, I am asking God to "bless her heart!"
7 comments:
I will be praying for the Lord to place His tender hands on sweet Lily tomorrow and bring her safely out of surgury!
Praying for Eric and Mari tonight as they prepare to hand their perfect little girl over tomorrow and put their trust and faith in the Great Physician. Praying for the doctors, that He will guide their hands and give them clear minds... praying for God to place His hands of protection around Lilly throughout her surgery and during her recovery. I know those pediatric cardiologists and nurses are some of the best... they are the same ones who took care of our friend's little Josiah for 8 months. Keep us updated!!
What a sweet blog!! I'll be praying everything goes smoothly! :)
Thanks so much for the post Rachel! So sweet! And thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers. That picture is beautiful that you took! Thanks again!
Mari
Rachel, what a beautiful post. Lilly is surrounded by so much love - she is sure to have a full life. She is so blessed. Aunt Kelly
What a sweet post, Rachel! Made me tear up... we sure do have an amazing family tree!
I'm not only praying that only Lily endures this surgery, along with her mom and dad but that the rest of the family and friends will too. For God know how much we can bare even if we don't know.
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