The other day, I was complaining and feeling sorry for myself because I had a bit of a headache that was encroaching on my carefully laid plan for the day. This headache was inconvenient and a nuisance, so I was having the “woe is me” conversation with myself.
However, I knew that I could take an over-the-counter pain reliever. I could also complete my neck exercises which, if I were clever enough to do them proactively, would likely have prevented or, at least, lessened the headache’s effect and the pain would begin to go away.
That same day, I received an e-mail from one of our incredibly phenomenal elementary school building principals informing me about, Lily, one of her first-grade students. No, Lily did not have a headache, but she is afflicted with extremely serious health issues that immediately rise to an unfathomable level for most of us.
Lily is beset with a multitude of health issues with the most pressing being her restrictive cardiomyopathy. This is an extremely rare, one in a million children a year, heart disease which impacts most other body organs as well. Long story short, Lily needs a heart transplant as soon as possible. Arrangements are in place for Lily and her family to immediately relocate to Colorado to await the appropriate donor.
Good grief! Lily is six or seven years old. I am seventy-two with significant life experience under my belt, but I can’t imagine facing something of this magnitude. Suddenly, my annoying headache pales, and pales significantly, by comparison and I question how I can help. What can I possibly do?
Lily’s family is seeking prayers. I can pray and I can ask you to join me in praying for Lily and her family.
Our
Father and our God, today I am lifting Lily and her family in prayer to you. As
you already know, they are facing huge challenges. I ask that you give them
strength and perseverance to weather this storm. May your blessed peace, the
peace that only you can give, wash over this family. We thank you for the
knowledge and skill of the medical professionals who will be caring for Lily.
While we mere mortals do not understand these “things”, we know that you are
there watching over us. In Jesus name, Amen.
Lily
and her family are part of the fabric of this Milton community we love and call
home. Her classmates and teachers are already lamenting her departure from
their daily lives. The sadness and enormity of this issue are palpable. The
columnist, Jenny Anderson, has written - “Community is about a series of small
choices and everyday actions: how to spend a Saturday, what to do when a
neighbor falls ill, how to make time when there is none. Knowing others and
being known; investing in somewhere instead of trying to be everywhere.
Communities are built, like Legos, one brick at a time. There's no hack.”
Please join me in interlocking the “bricks” we have available to us to become part of Lily's prayer and care team and aid her family in meeting this challenge. After all, WE ARE MILTON!
If you are interested in following Lily's journey by reading blogs and updates from her family, check out this link:
https://cota.org/campaigns/COTAforLilysHeart
Oh, and about that headache. Nevermind!
#cruzan4milton#WEAREMILTON
