If you’re visiting from my friend the Nester’s place this morning – welcome! So glad you stopped by. Consider the welcome mat out in your honor and the lemonade freshly poured. We’re getting a little introspective this morning, but won’t you come, pull up a chair and put your feet up on the coffee table with us? We love to write in five minutes, celebrate motherhood, and each other!
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When the cancer lost and Peggy Lopez found her way safe home to Jesus, how could she have known that mere months later a smaller version of her with dark and curly hair and just as brave would stand up in front of all the pews of faces and voluntarily lay down her life?
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
That with head held barely higher than the side of the pool she would tell us what a ten-year-old feels when watching a woman after God’s own heart prepare to meet him. How she knew she wanted to follow in Peggy’s footsteps and entrust her life to Jesus, so that she might also be raised with Him.
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
How she stood in the water and looked right out at us who are much older and most of the time think ourselves much wiser. How her voice never shook and how she spoke a truth much older even than Jim and Ginny, sitting there in the center aisle back row, and all their combined lifetime of faithfully following Jesus.
Our God is not dead
He’s alive, He’s alive.
How she and the three Lawson kids before her did what children have always been doing – they came to Jesus. They came as easily as it is difficult for many moms and dads to come. They came running. They came with joy. They came with Bible verses memorized and testimonies that stretched back to when they were three – no memory ironed into their young minds that didn’t hold an echo of the Jesus truth that has been their story since birth.
They may have stood on tippy toes but their faith was rock solid underneath.
So much joy running down, dripping wet right there in the every day sanctuary where we sing and pray and where we sat on the steps all those months ago and asked God to heal Peggy Lopez. Asked like the children we no longer are. Asked like the God we believe in told us to. Asked for life without knowing what it would look like. Without knowing if He would reach down and regenerate the cells that had mutinied or if He would wrap her in both arms and whisper, “Enough.”
And today we watched the children who watched us ask, lay down their lives in testimony to the Jesus who did heal Peggy.
With bare feet and their wet clothes.
Leading all the grown ups behind them.
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….and not a dry eye!
Thank you, what a beautiful, moving post! If I was not already saved I would be running to an altar at this very moment. Sans that I am currently asking God to accept my re-dedication to Him and to assist me in walking with Him each and everyday! Giving Him, once again, the permission to stop me from straying from Him, and rather to teach me to cling to Him with the heart of a barefooted child in church!
BTW…I often, and just yesterday, Praise and stand at the altar of my church barefooted! Have done this often in the last 10 years!
Blessings.
Absolutely, beautiful. Especially incorporating “Christ is Risen” throughout. Seeing such wisdom from such young people is inspiring.
oh that is beautiful. your words and the the sweet splashes of life Jesus gives. and the picture of running to Him with joy.
Tear agains. A wonderful day that was put into words beautifully. I going to print it off for my kids – what a gift!
Thank you thank you for letting me share a small glimpse into it here. What a gift of a day it was Karine. Your kids are a wonder :)
Karine,
You must keep this printed out. For those days when you think you aren’t good enough. For those times when you think that you are failing. Read this. Look as those faces and remember that God knows your heart, your desires, your needs and He meets them. That all those tears and struggles will bear fruit. And THIS is the fruit. You’re a fantastic mom. I love you!
Love YOU Connie!! And thank you for walking it with me my sister-in-Christ!! You have many times given me the push, the strength, the pray and the positive word to get up again!!!
Oh boy Lisa-Jo. I cried yesterday during the service and I’m crying again this morning reliving through these beautiful amazing picture, words and memories. I kept thinking the same thing about Peggy, how in her brand-new body she was shouting HALLELUJAH TO THE LAMB!
Yes, yes, YES!! I can just picture her and Jesus grinning ear to ear as they watched yesterday morning. I get chills just thinking about it!
I sent the link to James. This is his reply to me:
Oh my goodness! I can’t stop the joy mixed with tears. To God be Praise.
GO!ing with you,
james
Beautiful! Perfect focus for our Monday morning. I’m thanking God right now for His precious faithfulness. Thanks so much, Lisa-Jo, for sharing this.
(Now I’m off to wipe the tears & blow my nose :))
Thank you for writing about this family. They are in my prayers. My husband is a cancer doctor, and to hear how God redeems his people in the midst of this sort of pain is a blessing. Sometimes we need to hear it again and again.
I linked over to The Nester (see? Some people do it!). And your house is adorable, because YOU ARE IN IT. Thanks for inviting me over! :)
You have such a God-given talent, Lisa Jo, to tell a story as you see it unfold. As Peggy Lopez’ name was mentioned by this adorable child, I thought, “wouldn’t Peggy just be amazed at the influence she had on this wonderful child.” Thank you for sharing your “picture words” with us. It is truly amazing. God be prasied!!
Bunni
This means more to me than you can know because my mom got cancer when I was 10. She was supposed to die then, but lived another 29 years with cancer. She led me to the Lord before she died.
So moving Lisa-Jo because you write so beautifully and because it is such truth.
I find myself longing for that child self whose heart so readily embraced faith. I get tired of my smart adult self – always trying to figure it all out, doubting, wavering.
Thank for this glimpse into faith and joy and life.
Thanks for the lovely words about my friend Peggi. I sent this post to many of my teacher friends. I am beginning to see many fruits of Peggi’s life and death.
What wonderful news! Worthy is the Lamb, and your children KNOW it because they know HIM! Love you, Karine.
Thank you Tresa! Just saw your sweet message.
Breathtaking! Thank you for sharing that precious, holy glimpse of a radiant bride washing herself pure for her Beloved.
Oh, how I hope for moments like these! My son, 6, has expressed that he would be angry if God decided to take me away too soon. I have tried to explain heaven in the way that I understand it, the way Peggy is healed and not hurting, dancing with joy! I tell him it’s okay to be sad and miss me and I would miss him too, but that even RIGHT NOW, I can’t wait to be with Jesus!
A dear old friend just passed a day ago of a brain tumor. I am so excited that she is with Jesus!
I pray that my son will be a testimony of the joy of Christ!!
I just had to go back and read this again. *Sniff*. Thanks for capturing this moment and building a monument of testimony!
Merry Christmas and all my Love!
Connie