She giggled like
she was being tickle-tortured by her daddy.
He wasn’t even touching her little underarm; merely suspending his index
finger an inch away from it. But she
could hardly bear the anticipation of the touch that would send her into squeals
of laughter. Wasn’t that just a few
years ago? How is it possible that today
is her fourteenth anniversary of being married to her wonderful, amazing
husband?? And the three little ones that
have come from this God-made union are little miracles; every one of them.
She was 18 when
she began to realize that her love was growing for this handsome young man of
25. And then, that life-altering AVM in
his brain began to bleed leaving him partially paralyzed on the right side of
his body. She only left his side when
the hospital made her leave for the night.
But inside of that damaged brain, he was still in there – his mind
clear, witty and good-humored as ever.
And her love grew still more.
Through months
of physical therapy and tender-loving care from his precious family, he began
to recover much of the use of his weakened right-side; a walker, a cane and
then independent walking. His right
shoulder, arm and eventually the dexterity of his hand was restored.
But
what was permanently destroyed was the dream he had for his future career. Matt had been a pilot; actually he was a
flight instructor. This he would never
do again. He redirected his future career to the one God had planned instead.
He loved to fly
and it was gone - but when God takes something treasured away, He often graces us
with something even more precious. For
Matt, it was our daughter. She joyfully
loved him and committed herself to being his help-meet for life.
Her dad and I just trusted God for their future
lives together and He, once again, has exceeded our wildest expectations. We can only thank Him and praise Him for His
marvelous, amazing grace!!
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do far more
abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works
within us, to Him be
the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and
ever. Amen.
--AND AMEN!!
