In this world of snap chat, instagram, facebook, and twitter it's easy to look at the life others are living. The paths they've chosen. Most people think that their social media story needs to look like everyone elses in order to be happy. Very few take the road less traveled with a smile on their face.
Everyone has someone in their life that they admire. It might be for their brilliant intellect, their charismatic personalities, their athletic abilities or their good looks. One of my heroes happens to be one of our daughters. Let me preference this by saying I by no means believe that my children are perfect. Dear Lawd, don't hold me accountable to that!
One of our daughters is vivacious and always the life of the party. Someone everyone wants to be around. I admire and love that about her. I may not always agree with her way of dealing with things. But, at 19, she's finding her way. Not her voice..she was born with that! I've always believed God gave us Carrington because our family needed humor. And, oh how, my independent, gorgeous red head does make me smile. That young woman, no doubt, will go far in life just based on her personality.
Our oldest daughter has always been far wiser than her years. Extremely sensitive and shy as a child she took in everything around her. While her sister and myself where running our mouths this one was always observing. Taking it in. For years she looked to have a scowl on her face. I stayed on her constantly "Stop wearing your heart on your face". To this day I regret that. Little did I know the child never felt good. Ever.
In middle school and high school she had a very select group of close friends. Great girls. They were not in the thick of things. But they were thick as thieves. They decided in 7th grade that they wanted to play field hockey. My shy, tender hearted kid was a beast on the field! She was quickly bumped to the Varsity team. She blossomed. Field Hockey gave her a voice. She felt confident. Happy. She was really good.
Her senior year she committed to play for the University of The South aka "Swannee". Unfortunately she blew her knees not once, not twice, but three times. She ended up with 2 ACL surgeries and one meniscus surgery. The December of her senior year her Daddy and I sat her down. We shot it straight with her. If she blew her knees in college she would be looking at double knee replacements. Was it worth it? Was field hockey a sport she could continue after college in a professional career? She was devastated.
Her freshman year in college she came down with mononucleosis. We assumed it was from lack of sleep, going through sorority rush, being in an honors teaching program, and on a huge campus. Her high school, at the time of her graduation, had 727 students Pre-K thru 12th grade. This huge university was an adjustment. Between the activities and academics she just couldn't seem to get well.
The spring of her sophomore year, just as she was beginning to thrive again, she was attacked late at night by a stranger. We brought her home. She refused to give up and finished the semester by commuting 1 1/2 hours each way five days a week. She finished the semester on Deans List. The healing process was slow. The following fall she transferred to a university close by. She got an apartment by herself. I can't tell you how many nights we stayed on the phone with her assuring her that Jesus would never leave or forsake her. Her faith was unwavering. She was bound and determined to succeed at any cost.
The following fall we got a phone call about 2 o'clock in the morning. She said she couldn't move her legs or arms. We told her we'd be there in 45 minutes. She said she couldn't get out of the bed to open her apartment door. We knew something was very wrong. We got her to the E.R.. They had no idea what it was. They assumed, possibly, she had viral meningitis. At that point, I looked at Robin and said "No, something else is going on here. This is not normal".
For month's, my athletic blonde girl, had very little use of her legs. She was very weak. She had developed a red rash on her face. In the back of my mind I knew what it was. We took her to every specialist we could find. The blood-work was all normal. The last rheumatologist that we saw confirmed what I had prayed against in the name of Jesus. At 21 years old our daughter had systemic lupus. Oh, and to add insult to injury she also had sjogren's disease (which stops the productions of tears in your eyes and saliva in your mouth). We were referred to Duke the next week. She applied for an experimental 18 month trial infusion treatment. She was immediately approved.
This year, her final year of college, she is living with us while completing her teaching internship in our hometown. She's also just finished her 2nd season coaching the varsity girls field hockey team at her alma mater. She literally lights up when she talks about her first graders and or her players. Every time her Dad or I say, "You know, you don't have to teach. You can be a full time tutor and still coach". She smiles, and says "Mama, you of all people know. God's got it under control. He's got me covered in the blood".
The following fall we got a phone call about 2 o'clock in the morning. She said she couldn't move her legs or arms. We told her we'd be there in 45 minutes. She said she couldn't get out of the bed to open her apartment door. We knew something was very wrong. We got her to the E.R.. They had no idea what it was. They assumed, possibly, she had viral meningitis. At that point, I looked at Robin and said "No, something else is going on here. This is not normal".
For month's, my athletic blonde girl, had very little use of her legs. She was very weak. She had developed a red rash on her face. In the back of my mind I knew what it was. We took her to every specialist we could find. The blood-work was all normal. The last rheumatologist that we saw confirmed what I had prayed against in the name of Jesus. At 21 years old our daughter had systemic lupus. Oh, and to add insult to injury she also had sjogren's disease (which stops the productions of tears in your eyes and saliva in your mouth). We were referred to Duke the next week. She applied for an experimental 18 month trial infusion treatment. She was immediately approved.
This year, her final year of college, she is living with us while completing her teaching internship in our hometown. She's also just finished her 2nd season coaching the varsity girls field hockey team at her alma mater. She literally lights up when she talks about her first graders and or her players. Every time her Dad or I say, "You know, you don't have to teach. You can be a full time tutor and still coach". She smiles, and says "Mama, you of all people know. God's got it under control. He's got me covered in the blood".
This morning, as we do every month, I will be picking her up from her 2 hour long infusion. She refers to it as her "Go Go Juice". Some months she's great. Some months it's awful. I am literally awestruck by who she has become thru Him. She has never given
up. She rarely complains. OK, well yes she does, but not about the hand
she's been dealt. She does not ever want to be treated differently. She doesn't want to be known as that girl.
A great deal of her sorority sisters are now getting married. Whenever I allude to the fact that it would be nice if she would meet someone, even just to have a date to all of these weddings, I get the look. Then I get "Mama, you raised me, remember? I'm on God's time table. If I'm meant to meet someone I will. I am happy with my life. I can't change it. So I have learned to love it. Plus I can't deal with a relationship right now. I've got 22 first graders" with that she leaves the room laughing. Probably at me.
She's on track to graduate summa cum laude in the Spring. She's teaching, she nannies, babysits, coaches, and fills in occasionally at a retail store at the beach on the weekends. I will never understand why God gave us the privilege of raising her. I will never understand why God let this happen.
I'm thankful I have faith in Him to trust. Otherwise I'd be devastated, angry at the world, and ready to take someone out. My child has taught me that if you don't like your circumstance then find a way to love something about the circumstance. Only Jesus can do that. There are heroes. And there is redemption in Jesus. Praise be to God.
A great deal of her sorority sisters are now getting married. Whenever I allude to the fact that it would be nice if she would meet someone, even just to have a date to all of these weddings, I get the look. Then I get "Mama, you raised me, remember? I'm on God's time table. If I'm meant to meet someone I will. I am happy with my life. I can't change it. So I have learned to love it. Plus I can't deal with a relationship right now. I've got 22 first graders" with that she leaves the room laughing. Probably at me.
She's on track to graduate summa cum laude in the Spring. She's teaching, she nannies, babysits, coaches, and fills in occasionally at a retail store at the beach on the weekends. I will never understand why God gave us the privilege of raising her. I will never understand why God let this happen.
I'm thankful I have faith in Him to trust. Otherwise I'd be devastated, angry at the world, and ready to take someone out. My child has taught me that if you don't like your circumstance then find a way to love something about the circumstance. Only Jesus can do that. There are heroes. And there is redemption in Jesus. Praise be to God.
"I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name"-Psalms 91:14
