It's Okay To Be Done

“I’m done!” Elania announced to my wife, Nan, with a sigh.

Nan was rushing through the airport, several years ago, with her two grandchildren trying hard not to miss the connecting flight that would bring them back to Florida. With her baby grandson, Shane, in her arms, along with the all the paraphernalia that comes with traveling with a baby, she had been trying to encourage her three year old granddaughter to walk faster, when Elania decided she was too tired to go on.

And so, she told her “Nana” she was “done.”

“No, baby, you can’t be ‘done!’” Nan cried, more than a little panicked at the fact that Elania had just stopped right where she was. “Just a little further!”

After some pleading, Nan managed to convince her to push through and they made the flight.

During the year prior to coming to stay with us in Florida for a short time, Elania had proved herself to be quite a little fighter. She had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. After surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments and a second surgery, things looked good for a complete recovery.

Life went on for the next several years, but then the cancer returned. More surgery, more chemotherapy, and surgery yet again, are the events that have marked her life over the past couple of years.

While recovering from the most recent surgery, and as she was about to begin yet another round of chemotherapy and radiation, she contracted an infection that left her too weak to proceed with the treatment. It was also discovered that small piece of the tumor that they not been able to remove during the last surgery, had grown aggressively.

There was nothing left to do, but leave her in God’s hands.

Yesterday, as she lay in her hospital bed, she told her dad that she hoped her mom would hurry up and get there because she was really tired. She was tried of fighting, and she wanted to go home.

When I heard what she had said, I knew, in my heart, she was saying, “I’m done.”

Part of me wanted to cry out, “No, baby, you can’t be done!”

But how can you say that to a child that has had to go through all that she has been through in the almost nine years of her short life. Hasn’t she earned the right to just be done?

Her mom did get there. Nan also got there and they spent last night and this morning singing songs to her, sharing hugs, kisses, and smiles and Elania even laughed.

Nan told her, "Elania, you’re so strong!"

Elania nodded her head in agreement and then flexed her muscles for Nan.

Nan said, “You make me strong.“

Then late this morning, she was done, and she went home to heaven.

While our hearts are torn and broken, we rejoice that she is free, and safely home at last.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelations 21:4 (NKJ)

Elania Marie Canady, September 19, 2000 - September 6, 2009

Little Miracles, High Places and Amazing Achievements

When I sat down today to write, I was surprised to see how much time had past since my last posting. Time does have a way of moving right along, especially when you are busy.

For me, the last month and a half has been packed with so many events and activities that it wouldn't be possible to share them all with you. So I've narrowed it down to three things, as indicated by the title of this post.

LITTLE MIRACLES

On August 11th, my son Chris, and his wife Charity, welcomed Aribella Grace into the world. After years of trying to have a successful pregnancy, Chris and Charity had all but given up on the dream of having their own child. But our timing isn't always God's timing. God had a plan and answered their prayers with a beautiful baby girl.

HIGH PLACES

This picture is one of the views from the top of Mt. Evans in Colorado. The top of Mt. Evans sits 14,264 feet above sea level. My sister and I hiked to the summit on August 17th. (Now you know why they are called the Rocky Mountains!)



Fortunately, the highest road in North America takes you most of the way there, since in places that high, there seems to be an extreme shortage of oxygen! (Much different than the less than 200 ft. altitudes that I am accustom to in Florida!)


AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS

On August 26th, my parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary! I was in Colorado, along with many other family members and friends, to help them celebrate this amazing achievement.

Their lives have been an a true testimony of the power of faith, hope and love.


So maybe, just maybe, you can understand why I'm feeling mighty blessed right now!

Aribella's Lullaby

My newest grandchild is due to arrive next month. The arrival of Aribella has been much anticipated as my son and his wife have been trying to have a baby for quite some time, without success. They chose her name before my daughter-in-law became pregnant, because it carries the meaning, "Answered Prayer", which is exactly what she is.

I wrote a lullaby for her and just thought I would share the words with you.



ARIBELLA'S LULLABY

Sleep little baby girl,
No need to fear,
We’re right here.

Angels watch over you
As you sleep through the night.

Just close those sleepy eyes
And drift on away,
It’s okay.

And when the morning comes,
And on through the day
We’ll laugh and play.

Two eyes that shine so bright,
And soft hair that reflects the light,
Your small hands that know to hold on tight,
So precious in our sight,
Sweet baby.

You are the miracle,
God sent to us,
To cherish.

We’ll be right by your side
Each step of the way.

And every day that comes
We’ll bow and pray,
And thank Him.

Grateful to God above
For our heart’s desire,
Our answered prayer.

You’re truly,
God’s gift of love,
Our Answered Prayer.

Man Down!

On my way home from work each day, I usually stop to check our mail at the mail boxes near the front of our apartment complex, before driving the rest of the way back to our apartment. But yesterday, I broke the routine.


Our four year old grandson, Jacob, was at our place spending the afternoon with his Nana. So I figured that Jake and I could walk down to get the mail. That way Nana would have a chance to get supper going and take a well-deserved moment for herself. (Jake can really wear a person out fast, and she had been with him over three hours by the time I got there to give her some relief!)


As I got to the apartment, Nan greeted me at the door. I didn't see Jake, though, so I asked Nan where he was. Nan playfully said, "I don't know! I can't find him! He was here, and now I don't know where he is! Can you help me find him?" Of course, these were all cues to let me know that Jake was hiding from me and it would be my job over the next several minutes to search our home from top to bottom before eventually finding him in one of his favorite hiding places, under the end table by the sofa. So that's what I did and before too long we were out the door and on our way to the mail boxes.


Now, you have to understand that Jake seldom walks anywhere. He almost always runs and this afternoon was no different. I, on the other hand, seldom run anywhere! Fortunately, my walk is only slightly slower than his run. I would let Jake run a little ahead, and then stomp my feet hard against the sidewalk, as if I was running hard to catch up to him. He would squeal and laugh and glance back to see how close I was to catching him. Then once I had caught him, the whole scenario would replay itself.


Jake is at an age where he is not a particularly good listener. It reminds me of something they used to teasingly say about my grandfather, "He's not hard of hearing. He's just hard of listening!" But with Jake, it sometimes concerns me, because he doesn't have a lot of experience with understanding first-hand what can happen when you don't listen.


I can tell him all day long to stay on the sidewalk, and not to go out into the street. And I can explain the dangers of being hit by a car, but he only sees the reasons why, in his mind, he needed to do it. "There was a kitten that needed me! I wanted to walk on the other sidewalk!" I try not to let him get too far ahead of me because of this very thing.


So, as we were "walking" down to the mailbox, Jake decided that he would duck between to parked cars to hide from me. But as he stepped off of the sidewalk he stumbled and took a small spill onto one knee on the pavement. It was nothing terribly serious, just a slight scrape. After inspecting the knee, a very few seconds of "fake crying," and another lecture from me on the dangers of going out into the road, he was back to running down the sidewalk, only to stumble and fall once again.


No scrapes this time, but he did grab his ankle and with a second even shorter "fake cry" he explained, "I hurt my . . . this thing!" I started to ask if he was going to be okay, but by that time he was already up and running again.


On up ahead Jake stopped to once again check his knee injury and after looking closely discovered, BLOOD! "I'm bleeding! I'm bleeding!" he exclaimed, followed by more "fake crying." By the time I reached him he had plopped himself down on the sidewalk. I looked carefully at his knee and was actually able to see a little blood coming up in the scrape. I assured him that I thought he would live to which he over-dramatically responded, "You . . . go on without me . . . just . . go on without me!"


Being the compassionate grandpa that I am, I laughed and said something like, "Come on, drama boy!" And with that he was up and running again. There was not another mention of it until we arrived back at the apartment, where for Nana's sake it became a two-bandaid crisis!





Of course, Jacob knew I would have never left him behind. And so it is with our Heavenly Father. We can be assured that he will never leave us no matter what or who we face.




"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
--Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJ)

A Little Bit Of Heaven

This is my newest grand-daughter, Heaven. I've yet to meet her in person, but my wife recently met her for the first time. When I asked Nan about her, she only gave me a two word description of her: "She's perfect."

I'm thankful for the pictures, because if I didn't have them I would have thought that she had exaggerated, just a little!

Heaven basically has her whole life ahead of her. Yet, before she was born there were things in place, and in the short time she has been alive there are things that have happened, that have forever determined certain parts of the course of her life. Still, in the end, it will be up to her to become who she really is, by how she deals with whatever life brings to her.

So as I contemplate what lies ahead for Heaven, I am comforted to know that God has already made provision for everything that she will ever need. All she has to do is trust Him.

And God has already seen to it that she has someone to show her how to do it, by her example of faith--her mother.

Just Like a Child

The other day, my wife and I were talking about the fact that she has many childlike qualities. The question raised by Nan was whether that was a good thing or a not-so-good thing. So it got me thinking about the qualities that she has which are childlike and whether they serve her well. It didn‘t take long to decide that, without a doubt, they are a big part of what makes her a blessing to so many others.

After spending most of the day, yesterday, around my grandson, Jake, and thinking about my other grandkids and some of their qualities, I jotted down just a few of those qualities that I think all of us should have. So here they are for your consideration.

Enthusiasm: Ever notice how most children rarely just say, “Hello,” when a person they know enters the room. I can still remember how my granddaughter, Elania, used to greet me when I would come home from work with an excited, “Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa!” as she launched herself into my arms.

Wonder and Amazement: At three and a half, Jake is so aware of and interested in the world around him, like when he spotted an unusual looking bug on the edge of the swimming pool and paused for a closer look, a quick inventory of its parts, and a little poke to see if it was still alive.

Imagination and Creativity: Jake is into pirates big time right now, so as he was standing on the edge of the swimming pool he said, “Grandpa, you be the ship and I’ll be a cannon . . . wait . . . no, my head will be the cannon ball and my body will be the cannon.” With that he abruptly dove into the water towards me head . . . uh . . . I mean, cannonball first!

Energy and Life: I think most all of my grandkids have just one speed, GO! They have an amazing ability to go full speed through their day and then suddenly shutdown, unable to go another step. I know my grandsons Gydeon and Justin got a double dose of energy that their mom only wishes she could tap into!

Curiosity: It’s not enough for my grandsons to know that something works, they seem driven to know how. Lots of dismantled toys, whenever they are around.

Innocence and Faith: This is a fragile one. And it doesn’t take much to change this in a child, and that is a real shame. I remember this quality in my grandson Shane, and have seen it in my newest grandson, Jack, as well. I can only believe it must be there in my granddaughter, Heaven, the only grandkid that I’ve yet to meet.

Anyway, I think we miss out of a lot of joy from feeling like we have to be so adult all of the time. And while there is a big difference between just having some fun and being foolish, we shouldn’t ever miss the chance to embrace our lives with enthusiasm, wonder, amazement, imagination, creativity, energy, life, curiosity, innocence, and faith.

(What are your thoughts? Please share them, so others can be blessed.)