My eyes grew wide at what I saw coming, the ball quickly beginning to fall apart, and I was instantly filled with dread.
At Year One, I thought we had made it. Deep breath; we knew what we were doing. But as Year Two came along, and our life unraveled around us, bringing us to the core of each and every loss and this terrified fear, we realized we were wrong: There was more unraveling to be done.
It's been two years since our son was diagnosed with a life-long disease that few people understand, and most are confused about. Honestly, it's been the two longest, hardest years of our life. Type 1 "Juvenile" Diabetes wasn't welcome here; this unraveling was exactly what we feared the most. But like a loving Father, Perfect Love carried us through and let us see His character, through terrified eyes, like we had never seen it before: His faithfulness, His goodness, and His loving-kindness. As we unraveled, God's character unfolded, revealing Perfect Love.
"Perfect love casts out fear."
As the tips of Eli's fingers have grown calloused and tough with the hundreds and hundreds of finger pricks, Perfect Love tenderized our toughened hearts. As some friends crouched away, not wanting to come in, Perfect Love drew near and never left us. When Eli lost his vision for several weeks and we broke down, imagining our son was now blind, Perfect Love miraculously healed his eyes and gently picked us back up. When we thought we couldn't get up even one more time in the middle of the night to prick a finger, Perfect Love gave us His strength to do it again, and then again. As we painfully heard of other children dying in their sleep from this frightening disease, Perfect Love gave us His peace that surpasses all understanding.
"Perfect love casts out fear."
We are unraveled. But as we got to the end of ourselves, we found Him, at the center. This Perfect Love.
He's all there truly is. He's all we truly need. And as He lovingly puts us back together, we can honestly say, we are thankful.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18a
{I am writing this after checking Eli's blood sugar last night at 2:00 a.m. Type 1 "Juvenile" Diabetes does not rest!}
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| Our Brave One! |
