From 06/21/2006: Monday, O Monday of Jubilee

I really didn't write much or often when I had a Xanga. I think I only posted maybe six or eight times and only three of those posts were anything that could even represent an attempt at substance. But my blog on Jocelyn's healing has an unbelievable degree of significance in my heart. It is a celebration of health and God's goodness for today, written on June 21, 2006. So to keep from losing it and so that I can continue to keep coming back to read it, it is reposted below. Some of you who know us very well maybe have no idea what Jocelyn has gone through physically. May you join in our celebration. Enjoy...

These are good days. Not that all days aren't good in a sense. At least they are all good to some degree, for someone. Somewhere. But then there comes along a really good day. Something extra special. One of jubilee. A day when God reminds you that he not only intends to eventually bring us goodness and glory in eternity, but that he also seeks to show us his kindness in this life. Even in the muck and mire of this world.

Monday my youngest daughter Jocelyn had the latest in a series of regular appointments with her specialist. The latest of checkups in response to a mysterious and undiagnosed illness that began surfacing in April of last year. In her brief 18 months of life, she has spent more than 40 nights in the hospital, met weekly with two different therapists, faced countless tests like MRIs, CT scans, spinal taps, sweat tests, x-rays, etc., and has endured two months on a feeding tube that had to be reinserted through the nose almost daily by my wife and me. We have been told at various times that she may have cystic fibrosis, or a brain tumor, or any of many other less common but more terrifying diseases. And they've made it clear at least a couple times that her life was never guaranteed. We have prayed. And countless tears bear testimony to our fears. To the faith that was forced to grow in the mud of life.

I could write about that demand for faith. But instead I have something much more exciting to proclaim...

In February, Joci's health began to strengthen. Over the next couple months, it seemed we could possibly witness a turn around. We began to wean her of her checkups and close medical supervision. And on Monday, Dr. Lysternick said there is no need to schedule another appointment. Just go home and stay home. Enjoy her health... Enjoy her health...

Though her health has been steadily increasing for the past few months, complete mystery still clouds the darkness of the past year. We still have no answers. Probably never will. I suppose I'm still not guaranteed her health. None of us ever are. But Monday stands as a testimony of God's goodness for today. Just yesterday we were preparing for cystic fibrosis and a lifetime of pain and illness. Today we rejoice. God has taken the almost lifeless body of my little one and renewed it in a naturally unexplainable way. He healed the sick. Gave life to the dead. Joy to the broken. He provided a glimpse of eternity right here on earth. And reminded me of the freshness of his care. He really is good, isn't he.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart/ Test me and know my anxious thoughts/ See if there is any offensive way in me/ And lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps. 139:23-24)