Dearey Kids,

As we celebrated Judah’s 5th birthday a sense of grief overwhelmed me. Not for Judah but for you. Judah didn’t care about seeing Winter and Hope from Dolphin Tale. Judah didn’t care that he had presents, he actually cried when we tried to get him to open them. Judah didn’t care about the ice cream, balloon, or the fact that he was born on this special day.

But you did.

You wanted to see the joy in his eyes. You wanted to see him celebrate with raw excitement. You wanted to see him rip open his presents. You wanted to see him enjoy the dolphins.

But he didn’t.

You have endured so much. You have watched your brother almost die. You have watched a brain injury paralyze his life and in many ways, our family as well.

We used to have the freedom to go to the beach, a restaurant, a movie, grab an ice cream cone..on a whim. But now we don’t. Our moves and outings are calculated. Judah might scream. Judah might cry. Where do we blend his foods? Did we pack his seizure medications? Can you push him outside while we make dinner? Does he have his pacifier? Can you take 10 minute turns pushing him on the swing? Don’t be too loud at the table. Let’s pray in our hearts at dinner, we don’t want to set Judah off… and on and on. 

I get it. It is tough. You didn’t ask for this life. Life was handed to you.

Dearey kids, I am proud of you. I am thankful for your love and commitment to Judah, and to Christ. I am blessed to call you my sons and daughters. You have given much but you will reap greatly. You are reaping greatly.

Live it out:

Keep caring. Keep loving. Keep giving. Keep your heart right. Serve for an audience of one. Inevitably, you will meet another family waiting on a miracle. You will meet another kid that is “different” like Judah. The experiences that you have gone through and the character that you have built will give you such an uncommon platform to empathize with others. God is doing something in you. In us. A ministry of love is being formed and our hearts are becoming rendered to His. A crown awaits you.

Matthew 25:37-40

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

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