One day when our daughter Sarah, who has spina bifida, was very young, we took her to see her orthopedist. He explained that with the level of her lesion, it would be impossible for her to walk without major assistance.
He further explained that getting such equipment necessary to help would be like asking her to try to learn to walk with very heavy chain mail.
So, he recommended we not even try to help her walk but get a good stander instead. He said maybe she could someday swivel to move across the room in it.
We said okay.
Then he sat there looking at us in shock.
He said most parents of children with spina bifida fight him tooth and nail. He said they refuse to give up the dream of their child “walking,” no matter what it’s like for the child.
He couldn’t believe we just said, “Okay.”
We said his reasoning made sense, but it wasn’t until later that I realized the bigger reason why we were able to accept his advice easily and give up the dream of our daughter walking.
This same reason applies to any sad thing for me, any difficulty, bad circumstance, or suffering.
Our friend wrote this beautiful song for our daughter. It makes me cry every time I hear it. There is something better coming.
God has made a way for us to have all our sorrows erased one day, an end to the suffering, a way to be with Him.
Until that day, I grieve, but not without hope. On that day, pure joy.
Christa Upton Black Hills Picture Books Edgemont, SD
