Heaven

Today is Mercydez's 17 Month Birthday. Mmmm, how we miss you. It's amazing... even though you're spirit is no longer in your body, and you are no longer physically next to us, the tender mercies and the many miracles haven't ceased.

I remember going to one of my little brother's basketball games. It was up at the E-Center (I think) and we took our little Princess. Yes, we packed her and all of her many pieces of equipment, and off we went! It was just a few weeks before she passed away. I remember watching as a young man, who wore a jersey for the opposing team, got up during half-time to practice playing. From his movements, and from my perspective, it appeared as though this young man had Cerebral Palsy. Cheers were made for this young man every time he took a shot... every time he attempted anything, that for a "normal" person, would be easy. I had to look down at my little girl in my arms and say a silent prayer of gratitude.

Mercydez was diagnosed with severe CP.

I couldn't watch this young man continue to practice or I would have wept. Wept for gratitude, for joy, for an immense amount of love I couldn't express. That moment gave me hope for Mercy's future. A parents love, if allowed, is unconditional. I was never worried about if I would love my little girl, I was always worried if OTHERS would.

That moment gave me so much hope, though. Perhaps, one day, she would be that young person on the team. The one who never really gets to play, but is allowed the dream. Perhaps those around her would cheer for her, rather than mock her. In that moment, I was overwhelmed with love for those who chose to love another who is very different from them... this one was physically different, but equally worthy of love. This one could have been ignorantly and selfishly viewed as a "thorn in the side", but these wonderful people surrounding this young man looked outside themselves and saw that their love could change a person... and that persons love could change them.

I was, and still am, overwhelmed with gratitude for the tenderness and love shown. As a mother, I felt my heart melt. As a mother, I felt reassurace that things would be okay. Those who are closest to Heavenly Father have the ability to see past the physical hardships and differences. Those who are closest to Heavenly Father look at the heart. And because they do, they are forever changed for the better. And those they love are too.

As a mother of a "disabled" child, I thank those who so lovingly showed compassion to another.

This is what Heaven is going to be like.