Joel's Journey: the 3rd

Thursday, January 3, 2013

the 3rd

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

I wasnt going to write anything of the "day 6 years ago today!!" BUT when I snapped this photo this morning, it told my story!! And like always God ALWAYS meets me where my emotions are and shows me Himself in ways that I would never dream. After 6 years, sometimes I fear that God will forget the pain that I still feel. BUT through a simple photo God reminded me that HE has not forgotten and that His Presence is still very real to something that happened 6 years ago tonight at midnight!! After 6 years, it's still unclear, puzzling!!! BUT one day I will know with perfect clarity!!! I'm so thankful for that hope and anticipation!!! I can't wait to know!! Soooooo I was so blessed and comforted that on a day of hard remembrances, God remembered!!

Thank you Jesus that you never tire of hurting hearts, questioning minds, souls that wish it was different!!!

1 comment:

Unknown said...: I admire your faith. I'm going through a period of questioning God and my faith due to a lot of hard things that have happened. Thanks for showing that it's possible to keep Faith during the hard times. I admire your walk with God so much.; January 3, 2013 at 6:03 PM

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Joel's Story

Joel, our 11th of 13 and a twin of Josiah, at age 3 was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, on December 6th, 2006. Joel had three perfect years of health and he and Josiah celebrated their 3rd birthday Sept. 13th, 2006. The first of Oct. Joel started having unexplained fevers for a few days and would return to active play. After the fourth round of fevers we took him to our family Dr. which they said his iron was low, so we treated that for a few weeks and took him back only to have his hemo. showing lower than before. We were referred to a hematologists and saw him a few weeks with blood checks twice a week. At a visit on Dec. 4th we showed the Dr. the bumps, (which were tumors but we did not know at the time) on Joel's head and he was very concerned and we were told we needed to admit him immediately and start extensive tests the following day. Joel went through rigorous testing and then the dreaded results were given. Joel was at a stage IV the most extensive stage, but we were hopeful that the Lord would use the means of Chemotherapy treatments to restore Joel's body. Joel endured 8 1/2 days in the hospital, came home for Christmas, and returned for his second round of chemo Jan. 3, 2007. Joel had a seizure that night after midnight and went into a coma due to a tumor bleeding in his head area and causing his brain to swell. After tests the following days, the Dr. declared Joel "brain dead" and took us to court to force us to take Joel off life support, as we did not agree with the medical field's definition of death. Our family sought to stand with the scripture, "life is in the blood,"and until Joel's heart quit beating naturally, he was living. We were making arrangements to bring him home and on January 23, 2007 his little heart stopped beating and he went to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven. Our lives are changed forever. God is faithful in the midst of this trial and we look with great hope to be with him someday.