Friday, December 16, 2011

Dearest God,

It is not hard to keep faith alive when we put ourselves in "growing" places. Today I found myself in such a spot. I felt that familiar feeling of growth, that sudden burst of length and width.

During lunch I asked questions and listened to my friend talk about her six-year-old daughter who has been dealing with a brain tumor for nearly two years. In a race to keep the cancer at bay she's already had nearly 100 chemo treatments. The little girl named Grace after God's grace is spunky, effervescent, and a happy child who loves to dance and belt out songs of faith. She is courageous, direct, and unafraid.

Grace is your ambassador at the hospital. Dubbed the "angel of Riley" she encourages other children and their parents. Recently she insisted on seeing the principal at her elementary school so she could convince her to substitute the school Christmas gift exchange for students to a toy drive for Riley kids. They got eight big boxes of toys.

This summer Grace and her parents held a fundraiser and raised $13,000 that they used to provide "Make a wish" gifts for two dying children. Grace loves caring for sick kids.

Just a few days ago Grace and her mom sneaked into an Intensive Care room to offer words of hope to four-year-old Ella and her mom and dad. Before they got shooed away Grace had already held Ella's hand, shared with the patient her own story, and told her the headache from brain surgery would soon feel better and that she was praying for her.

What more can faith do in the midst of faith but increase and multiply, storing up a reserve when threatened by doubt, temptation, sin, fear or rebellion?

Holy God,
Power of the Universe,
Gentle Loving Spirit,
how I
thank you
for my friend Stephanie
and little Gracie.
How I
thank you
for the
dramatic transformation
that has
taken place
in Stephanie's life
over the
last 23 years
where faith
took root
and grew.
Thank you
for grace
and love
that can
make anything change.
Thank you
for your presence
that makes anyplace
a growing place.

Love, Andrea