Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Beautiful Butterflies Stories for 2014

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:17-21

How do you measure God’s love? I have things in my life I can measure how much I love it and it loves me. For instance - my morning coffee. I love my coffee however; one day I do but the next I don’t. The coffee grounds come from the same canister yet it could taste different every morning. Perhaps I neglected to measure my tablespoons when scooping the grounds before dropping them in the paper filter. Maybe I added more water than the day before making it strong then weak the following day. However; because of the revolutionary premeasured K Cup every day is a well-balanced day! Just the right amount.

Can you tell that I like predictable days? Like clockwork I start my day. Like clockwork I end it. But six years ago time suddenly stood still when my 28 year old daughter told me, “I think I’m having a heart attack.” My first thoughts were how would she know…she’s never had one before. It must be indigestion. Later we discovered she was right and I was wrong. After three surgeries Kellie became weak and said goodbye to this life and hello to the strong life she longed for. February 29, 2008, Leap Day, was not a well-balanced day for me.

BUT GOD, has taken my weak heart and molded it to be strong with compassion. In six years I wrote a book about Kellie’s life, started a ministry, speaking in front of small and large groups, sitting in front of TV cameras, and have met some of the nicest folks in the world! God has done immeasurably more than I could have ever asked or dreamed. He has placed me in a ministry I would have never thought to ask for. The genetic condition we hid for years has now become the condition I embrace. Is there something in your life you’ve run from that perhaps to turn and embrace it would make you a stronger servant for Christ?

Most of you know my story so for 2014 I’m going to share their story. Their? The stories of those in the Turner syndrome community: TS girls and women, mothers, fathers, brother, sisters, grandparents, boyfriends and husbands! Every Tuesday, starting January 7, 2014, Leaping Butterfly Ministry blog spot will host a guest writer.

 
Above are just a few of my dearest new TS friends who will be guest writers for 2014: Andrea Horner, Emily Markowski, Laura Ridgeway, and Monique Gras. (Names from left to right. Picture taken on a recent trip to Fort Wayne, IN.) They are some of the strongest women you’ll ever meet…not weak!