One year. Whew,
she made it to one year. I sometimes
wish I could write about the pretty in pink birthday party I held for her one
year birthday or all the dreams we dream for her bright future or simply that I
even got her a gift. But I can’t. Interestingly enough, all I can think about
on this quiet late night just hours before her one year birthday chimes in is
how absolutely grateful I am to God that she is alive and strong. I begin to wonder if it is in fact coupled together
with living in a community where many children don’t live to see their 5th
birthday due to malnutrition, sickness and just plain out poverty that strikes
down at the heart of many families.
Years ago, I had the expectation – the confidence that if and when a
child dies there needs to be clear explanation and surely everything was done
to prevent it, right? Has living here in
the rural mountains of Burundi, surrounded by so much pain and suffering
completely flipped that idea upside down for me? I hope not.
Isabella
Nasya (Nasya meaning miracle in Hebrew) is the name we gave her, Isabella
meaning devoted to God. Bell for short was a miracle from the day she
was born when the doctors declared it a miracle that she lived. Her heart beat stopped, the only doctor who
was on call casually stopped in to wish me luck before she went to preach… God timing, I tell you. Power cuts, next thing you know I am getting
an emergency C-Section, they are pulling her weak and limp body out and then comes the miracle. She lives.
8 months later she nearly goes into respiratory failure with a combination
of RSV and Pneumonia as she struggles to breathe the entire drive down to the
city from our mountains in the north.
That was a tough one... Yet, just
in the right time they got her oxygen levels up and hospitalized her and soon she
was on her way to recovery. I remember those
moments of hopelessness, desperation and the Savior I ran to in the pain and
confusion. There’s no greater feeling
then to know that whatever trials we may enter into in life… He is right there
with us, sustaining us, holding us... reminding us that we are not alone in
that pain, in that confusion. And His
truth begins to gently work all that out… unto His glory.
Bell
Nasya. She has in every way taught us to
trust and depend on God in ways we have never deemed possible. She teaches us to cling to Him, the One who
is faithful, who comforts and works on our behalf, the One who can and will
continue to do miracles in our lives. For now, for forever… may she live out the
very purposes God intended and created her for – unto His glory.
I love the
way she dramatically throws herself on us for affection.
I love her
big eyes, I love even more when Isai says “Why what big eyes you have Bella”
I love how
she watches Kai and jumps into the mix with him, is strong and doesn’t let
anyone mess around with her!
I love her cautiousness,
and deep love and affection.
I love that
she has my toes… well, just my toes. And
I don’t even like my toes all that much – but I love that she has a piece of
me.
I love her sense
of adventure; independence… and her ‘go with the flow’ attitude as we strive to
raise her to the best of our ability in a world unfamiliar, inconsistent and
pressing at times.
Bell
Nasya. You are loved. So loved our child.
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