Little Easters

Mabel had her surgery on Ash Wednesday this year. A little bit of the old in her died that day. We began the journey of Lent.. the trail to the tree with Jesus. Just like His, her bones were shattered that day. Thankfully, we knew some kind of new life and resurrection was on the other side of it all. Today her cast came off. And just like a butterfly peeking out of it's cocoon for the first time in spring; she was ALIVE. You could not contain her smile and her laughter and her dancing. It wasn't because she can now walk normally like so many of us. Her old wounds are there just as Jesus continues to bear the wounds of the crucifixion in His resurrected body.  Her leg is even shorter than it was before and her left foot no longer touches the ground but she knows something is different, something is new. In a few years, we will start the lengthening process but for now; we had to address the deep root issue, the angle of her hip. Mabel trusts us now in a way she never could before. We haven't had an emotional melt-down in almost 4 weeks

 (these were happening daily at first and have slowly tapered off).

This is not to say that we won't ever have one again but Mabel now knows we aren't going anywhere.

 

 

 

As I laid in the hospital bed literally on top of her so she could sleep, as I wade thru the sting of mental illness with one of my dearest, and as we gasp for air with our closest friends as they lose their earthly father to the cancer buried deep in his bones; "the cross is looming, the sadness of loss and the stench of death keep me from the joy and excitement of what is to come." TODAY, I REJOICE AND DANCE that her cast is removed and her body is healing and for the LIFE that is growing inside my dear friend whose father in law is leaving them and "I'm convinced that in the others whatever it is will be BEAUTIFUL, but there is still more dying left to do before I can get there."

 (quotes from Jim Branch)

 

 

"Just about any time we are surprised with new possibilities for life and healing in the midst of brokeness and decay, there is a litte Easter that gives us a glimpse of the resurecction power of God's love made manifest in the crucified and risen Jesus."- Trevor Hudson

Today, we celebrate a little Easter in our Mabel girl.

 

To feel life and death, joy and despair all in the same season is a mystery. They mystery of Easter.