A BIG and Generous Heart

Kirra has such a big heart.  This past week, her friend Dawson was admitted to hospital.  He had surgery on Wednesday to place electrodes into his brain for the purpose of tracking his seizures so that doctors could then perform brain surgery to help prevent further seizures.  I think this speaks to Kirra on a couple of levels.  She loves Dawson and wants him to be healed.  And, the word seizures always bring thoughts of Ayden and she is fearful of anyone having seizures because she knows that a seizure took her cousin much too young and she misses him every day.

The night before Dawson went into the hospital, Kirra spent some time making Dawson a card.  We spent time praying for Dawson as I tucked Kirra.  She was in tears as she was scared for Dawson and his surgery but we talked about Dawson being in God's hands.  The next morning when she woke up, she told me that she wasn't even going to play at recess time.  When I asked her why she said, "If Dawson can't be at school having recess, then I don't want to have recess without him."  She then proceeded to tell me that she was going to get some friends together at recess and pray for Dawson.  And that is exactly what she did.  She gathered some girls together and they each took turns praying for Dawson.  I was on supervision so I went and took a quick video to send to Dawson.  It made my heart sing with joy.  She is full of compassion.

I am so grateful to work in a Christian environment.  They day before Dawson's surgery, a number of staff sat together with Allan (Dawson's Dad - who works at the school) and prayed for Dawson.  And then again the morning of the surgery, a number of us got together to pray for Dawson and to uplift his whole family in prayer.  What a blessing to be part of a faith community like this.  And we all continue to pray.

Kirra was grateful to hear that the surgery for Dawson went well on Wednesday.  But she was surprised that Dawson's head had to be shaved and she worried about that for him.  Prayer continued and Kirra kept asking when we could go visit Dawson.  Unfortunately, Terry was in Toronto and with Jaret's ball on Thursday night, we weren't able to plan a visit until Saturday morning.  Thursday evening, Kirra told me she wanted to use her TacTic money to buy Dawson popcorn.  While out running errands on Thursday night, we bought some big KitKat bars (since TacTic only sells mini ones) and an I Spy card game for Dawson.  Her plan was to bless him with it when we visited.  I was sick Friday and not feeling 100% on Saturday morning so we didn't get to visit until the afternoon.  I had a patient little girl who spent her morning working on crafts for Dawson.  She made beautiful pictures for Dawson while thinking of him and praying for him.  I love her generous heart - putting Dawson first and caring for him the way she does.  She is such a blessing to me as I see how she blesses others.

We made it to the hospital on Saturday afternoon and Kirra jumped right up onto the bed with Dawson.  She and her friend Mathea, who was also there visiting, spent time playing Hangman and I Spy.  They talked, they laughed, they played, they watched some tv.  Kirra didn't want to leave.  But before we did, we got to pray over Dawson which was a blessing.

Sunday morning, Kirra was eager to visit Dawson again.  And how could I refuse?  She loves spending time with him and I know that having visitors helps pass the time for Dawson.  Again, Kirra spent the morning making more pictures for Dawson so she would have something to give him at the hospital.  This time, Jaret joined us for the visit and they all had so much fun.  They played a Star Wars game and they all were so excited and shrieking so loudly that I thought our family was going to get kicked out of the hospital.  Things calmed down though as they all cuddled in to watch a movie.  Although, during the movie they did have some fun making faces at the camera that records Dawson while in the hospital.  I am sure the nurses got a couple of giggles over that.  These are special moments...moments when you see your children encouraging others who are going through a difficult time and just loving on them.

Pastor Trigg spoke of The Lion Chaser's Manifesto by Mark Batterson in his sermon today.  It is a beautiful reminder of how we ought to live life.  It is something I am going to begin praying over my children as I long for them to pursue a life of faith.  And I hope that faith is rooted deep as they live the life of God's remarkable plan for their lives.  That their life is full of hope and grace and that they bless others because they are blessed.

Please keep the Wood family in your prayers.  We are especially praying for him to get in for surgery this week and praying for God to direct the surgeon's hands so that He can completely heal Dawson from seizures.  And join me in praying The Lion Chaser's Manifesto over our children.  Can you imagine how life would be different if we all lived life this way?