Mend where there is brokenness

L to R, Megan, me, Sissy (Erin). Silver Dollar City. Sister's Weekend 2007.

My eldest sister, Megan, is only 15 months older than I. People used to think we were twins. Mommy dressed us alike when we were little. I liked that. Until she had me get poodle perms. Then I looked like a kid who'd gotten too courageous with the electrical outlets. Ahem, Mommy.

Anyway, we played house outside in a structure of stacked cinder blocks. Mud pies adorned with leaves were our specialty. Never mind Meg used to have me drink muddy water ("chocolate milk") garnished with molded bread bits.

She was my idol for the longest time, and she still is. Though a slight woman, she packs more bravery, resilience, courage, humility, and joy than anyone I've ever met. Ever.

As we've aged, we've realized there's some sort of secret language between us...I've gone to go to dial her but she is right there, calling me...

When I got the call that she was pregnant with her second baby, I was happy. Grateful. Too, some sadness that I couldn't be there to take care of her during the pregnancy since we live so far away from each other. I'm very protective of both sisters (middle child syndrome?). Have had to pray through that because I know it's not my job to protect them...only the Lord's and their husband's.

She delivered the devastating news Monday. I fell down to my knees on the sticky kitchen floor. My heart hung suspended in my chest, eyes going left, right, left, right. Where do I look? How do I listen? What is she saying? Tears, you must leave so I can be strong.

Over halfway through her pregnancy, they learned that the baby has a rare congenital heart defect called Transposition of the Great Arteries. You can read more about their situation here. Bottom line? They need a miracle.

photo credit

I have personally met and only cyberly met some of you. I appreciate your journeying with me. I appreciate that you believe in my writing and like my pictures. So now it only makes sense to ask you, my friends, to pray for the baby, my sister, and her family.

Oh that everything we experience would make complete sense. But it doesn't. Psalm 139:13-14 reads: "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." I've wondered if God was busy diverting a hurricane or distracted by some catastrophy when He was working on Baby Peter's heart. But that is thinking in human terms, and will only lead to more questions.

So I grasp this:

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1

This is a testing of our faith and I can already feel our family ties binding closer together.

So this is what it means to fight.