One month from today will mark a very important anniversary for our family. November 8th would be Rebekah's 2nd birthday. Last year our family was still grieving tremendously and were so blessed by all of the gifts and cards we received from family and friends. It truly overwhelms us to know how many of you still think of her and pour out your love and compassion on us over her loss.
This year the pain has lessened a bit and we've decided it's time to make some plans. We want to make the day something that our family can look forward to and not anticipate with dread. It's also important to us that we create a tradition for Lydia's sake. We want her to grow up knowing that although her sister was with us for a short time, God had a significant plan for her life just as He does for us all. We want her to see God's provision and His goodness through the tragedy that she will certainly come to sense more as she grows older.
I have been praying over the past few weeks that God would give me very specific direction on how to approach this day and I believe He has answered me. I want to share my idea with all of you and invite as many as would like to participate. I'll warn you in advance, just like the circumstances that brought us to this time in our life, it won't be easy or comfortable but I know it will be worth it.
If there was a theme to the events of that week two years ago it would be summed up with one word. Sacrifice. Certainly losing a child caused me to reflect with greater awe how broken God's heart truly was to watch His own son die for the sake of those who rejected Him. Also, our family was called to sacrifice the plans we had made for the plans of the One whose ways are higher than our own. But most of all, sacrifice was like music underscoring every moment that week. It was played over and over again in the most extraordinary ways by the most extraordinary people. From the doctors and hospital staff to our family members, closest friends and church community.
For 6 days in November 2005 people abandoned their own personal needs and desires to serve us. They spent their lunch hours in our hospital room holding our daughter and praying with us. They brought us meals, clothes and gifts. Some spent every single night of that week with us, leaving their own kids with babysitters. Many of those babysitters volunteered as an act of ministry to our friends so they could minister to us. One lady in our church, who herself suffers from a debilitating disease, spent hours crocheting an afghan for us. Another wrote a poem. Many sacrificed their prayers and their tears. We probably still don't know all the ways people allowed themselves to be broken and spilled out on our behalf but you can be assured we are thankful just the same.
That brings me to my idea. I feel the only way to truly honor what God has done through Rebekah's legacy is to remember her through sacrificial giving. It's the only thing that can truly capture God's intentions during those dark days.
I am asking that you all begin praying for God to lay a very specific act of sacrifice on your heart. Something that will reflect God's love to another person. It could be buying a gift, taking a meal, paying a bill, visiting someone in a hospital or nursing home, mending a broken relationship or even sharing the Gospel. Ask Him to reveal something that is sacrificial and for lack of a better word, inconvenient. By giving of yourself sacrificially you will not only honor the memory of our daughter and the faithfulness of our God, you will no doubt receive a blessing.
I want to make it clear that we're not interested in anyone spending a lot of money or even a lot of time. We also don't want it to just be limited to adults. Those of you with kids old enough to get involved, please include them. Have them pray for specific instruction too. I know God will honor it and will grow their faith as they act in obedience in faith.
Once the "gift" has been given we would like to invite you to join us on Thursday November 8th at Williamson Memorial Gardens. We will designate a time and invite everyone who participated to join us at Rebekah's grave marker. Everyone who comes will be asked to bring a balloon of any color with their sacrifice written on it. That's one balloon for each sacrifice made. If you don't live nearby, we can have someone bring a balloon on your behalf. We will have a time of prayer and worship and then release our balloons in unison. I'm hoping the visual picture painted with all the colors floating overhead will serve as a reminder to all of us that ultimately every sacrifice we make in His name for those here on earth is received as an offering of praise by our Heavenly Father.
I'd also like to ask that each person write down their sacrifice and bring them to us that night for us to keep. We'd like to make them into a book that we can pass down in our family. I'd also like to share what God did through all of you here on the blog. Start praying and listen with faith and obedience. God is about to show off Big Time!
I can't wait to see how many colors are in Rebekah's Rainbow.
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