Lessons Learned from Lydibug Day 9

There is no mountain too high or no joy too great.  I believe that this is Lydia's motto that she has lived with.  She has accomplished things that no one thought were possible and she has done it with pure joy.  Everyone who meets her is affected in some way.  Everyone who hears her story is affected in some way.  She has a light, a twinkle, a sparkle that will wrap you around her finger so quickly you will not see it coming.

I look back to her trials in the hospital and usually they seemed impossible.  She was in there for over five months.  Most days just felt hopeless.  But if you walked into her room, often times she had a smile, a hug, a giggle to just melt the fears and worries away.  Even when she was sicker than sick, where they did not know what the next minute would hold; there was a twinkle in her eye where you just knew she was fighting with all of her might.

Often times when she heard the doctors or nurses, or a therapist or mom tell her she couldn't; moments later she was accomplishing whatever it was.  Around Thanksgiving we were set to go home and then we found out she was in complete heart failure and was really sick.  Her surgeon came in to just hug us and give us support.  He understood how long and hard this road was.  He said very loudly I bet she will not be home until after the new year!  She came home just days after Christmas.  She was out to prove him wrong, she could move mountains and she could do so with joy!  She sailed through her open heart surgery and eleven short days later was ready to come home for the very first time.

When stereotypes about what she can and can't do cloud my mind, I must remember that just like the other girls, she will show me what is important.  Just like the other girls she will determine what she can and cannot do.  The mountains my not be moved on my time, but on hers.  And each mountain that is moved; there are thousands of lessons to be learned.

So when I look at a situation and think that it is impossible to accomplish, the mountain is too high to climb, I remember one step at a time.  And not just one step at a time, but one smile and step at a time.  I am to bring glory to God as I am fighting this battle.  It is a perspective that I have never seen until meeting Lydia.  Even in the hard stuff there is glory and joy abounding from her face.  Even in the hardest of the hard situations there is a presence of peace and calmness.  This is what it is all about.  Accomplishing tasks and setting out to do something, no matter what.  To impact lives and to show people that it can be done.

Often times we look at that mountain and say it is impossible and walk away.  We miss blessing after blessing by doing so.  Usually we are brought back to that mountain to climb too and it is much more difficult than if we would have faced it to begin with.  We can do all thing through Christ who gives us strength.  We cannot do it on our own, but with Christ anything is possible.

Thanks Lydia for the great reminder and giving me courage to fight the battles that life throws my way, no matter what.  And thanks for teaching me about joy and giving glory to God in the face of hardships.