INSPIRASUNS

Yesterday, a friend shared with me a story about a young family she knows. I’m going to try to share this story being respectful of this young family and yet sharing the incredible love of Christ that worked through the middle of it all. As I listened to the story of this family’s little girl, Lily Ann, my heart ached for them, yet I was celebrating the incredible miracles that Father performs every day.

Lily Ann was born nine months ago. Very soon after her birth, not long after getting home, she began to have problems, her body temperature dropped rapidly and her mother, being a nurse knew almost immediately something was very wrong. They rushed their child back to the hospital where she of course was admitted for tests. Tests began and ultimately what they found was that little Lily Ann had a very rare genetic disorder where her body could not process protein. Her condition was very serious and damage had already been done to her little body.

Ultimately the doctors shared the horrible news that little Lily Ann would not live long, although they could not guarantee how long. Since the hospital where she was, was a teaching hospital the doctors asked if Lily Ann’s case could be used to help students learn more about the disorder she had, in hopes of helping others. The parents agreed, however, that didn’t last long. Shortly after, not being able to take the poking and prodding of their little girl, the parents took her home, however not before sharing this with the doctors. After being told by those doctors that they couldn’t guarantee if Lily Ann would live two days or two months her mother looked at the doctor and said, “You don’t know my God. We will take our daughter home and let Him guide her final days. We will put her life in His hands”.

What happened over the next months is nothing short of, well, miracles.  Lily Ann’s mother has a very large social media following. Word went out about the situation and the prayers began to flow.  I’m not sure you understand what kind of prayers I’m talking about.  Lily Ann’s mom has over 30,000 followers on social media, so the prayers, yes they were shaking the foundation of Heaven I believe.  You’ve all heard me say before, I believe the more we all lift prayers, the louder they are and Father, well, he takes notice. And he did just that.

Lily Ann’s parents took her in for a check-up where she told the team of three doctors about how she was smiling and cooing. Two of those doctors, who were not followers of Christ, stated, “That’s not possible. Because of the build-up of chemicals from this disorder, her brain is like Swiss cheese”. “Well, she is happy, she is smiling she coos, it is possible”.  At the end of the visit, the one remaining doctor, a Christian, shared that she had been praying so hard for Lily Ann.  Well, she wasn’t the only one. Lily Ann’s mother shared that she was receiving messages from all over the world about people lifting prayers for their family. There was even a tribe in Africa praying for little Lily Ann.

This little soul, this little life was uniting a world in prayer. Each day Father answered those prayers with a miracle. Every day He granted another day together for Lily Ann and her parents. Her beautiful smile, her angelic face, yes through this little child, we see the face of God. He has made us in His image, and the image of this child is pure beauty.

Little Lily Ann passed away on April 6th, exactly nine months after she was born. Through her short time on this earth, Father worked miracles through her.  Not only the miracle of her just being here when the doctors said it wasn’t possible but the miracle of showing His love through the most difficult time.  This little child brought people to Jesus as they united to pray for her. Yes, all things work together for the glory of God.

Lily Ann’s parents laid her to rest yesterday in a difficult but absolutely beautiful service. The faith, grace, and love of Jesus exuded from her parents. Lily Ann’s mother shared how this little soul had her own ministry throughout her short life. Through this ordeal, they have “Received countless messages from people saying how their faith has grown, changed, strengthened or deepened because of Lily Ann’s testimony. People have started reading their Bibles, and they have started believing again. People have started praying again”. This service was not about just remembering this sweet soul, it was about the joy and hope of Jesus Christ, living through that little soul and this family. If you would like to watch this beautiful service, you can see the replay here.

Friends, Father worked through Lily Ann, and I know that today she sits on the lap of Jesus. Her smile lighting up Heaven. Father was at work, He brought a world together and I believe He smiled as He heard those prayers.

When I think about this family and little Lily Ann, I realize my problems, my challenges, well, they simply aren’t. This my friends, this story, we can all learn so much from it. This is Christ in action, this is the Holy Spirit alive in His children.

Please keep this family close in prayer today. Pray that they will continue to be strengthened by the love of Christ that flows so visibly through them. The day will come when sweet Lily Ann will bound into their arms, and the day will come when we, will bound into the arms of Jesus.

Mark 10:14
But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God”.