I have spent the last few hours a family who's six year old daughter has died, she had a heart condition. They knew about the heart condition, she had undergone several operations since the day of her birth, the last one being two month's ago. She was recovering well, back at school with her friends life was returning to "normal", and then today on the way home from her grandparents house she collapsed and died.
I have no answers......
Today I wept with them, and hugged them, held their hands and prayed with them... I have no answers....
I cannot explain why life is as it is...
Life is always vulnerable and fragile, always a gift.
This little girl grasped that gift with both hands and lived everyday that was given to her to the full, she was cheerful and determined....
...and now she is no longer with us, and we will miss her.
Yesterday she insisted that her family put up their Christmas decorations, she wanted to see them....
Tomorrow for Hannah I will break with my own advent tradition and decorate our Christmas tree, I will hang the lights in remembrance that God in Christ brought light to the world- this is not a future event but a promise realised and being realised.... I will hang decorations to remind myself of God given gifts that fill our lives everyday, and I will probably weep for this little one lost to us, and for her family whose table will hold an empty chair...
Life is a gift, always vulnerable and fragile, this young life has come to an end, and I have no answers, only a faith that assures me that someday all will be well....
... through difficult times we have to and allow our own vulnerability to be held by God, or we fall apart...
I loved this little one, and love her family, I feel numb right now- and pray- for they struggle with so much more....
