Don't Close the Book Until the Song Is Over

What a great week Callie had! It seems each day reveals another answer to prayer. She is stronger and is holding her head up--"bobbly" like a newborn, Dana wrote. She chews and swallows in speech therapy, and yesterday she was allowed to chew and swallow some ice. On an earlier try, she had quite a reaction to a cold lemon-flavored swab! (See pic below.)

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In physical therapy she tried to roll over and push herself up. She enjoyed a visit from a therapy pooch on Thursday. Yesterday she found her nose with her left hand and even tried to pick a booger out! What parent wouldn't thrill to see that in these circumstances! When her daddy Jeff was tickling her ribs this morning, she rolled over to get away and even attempted a chuckle.

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Perhaps most exciting of all, on Thursday Callie started trying to open her eyes! As Jeff described it, she had "wide open slits." Although she hasn't opened them completely yet, it's a hopeful indication that she is regaining control of her eye muscles.
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What a difficult concept patience is for us as human beings, especially in the midst of our trials. During the initial days of a crisis, we are buoyed up by the Spirit and surrounded by family and friends. This loving support carries us through fear and uncertainty as we come to terms with our situation.
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But days pass and our loved ones must return to their lives. The Spirit steps back a little, allowing us to experience the trial of our faith as we face the day-to-day hardships.

I believe this is the most difficult period of any trial. It is also the most valuable, as we are called upon to exercise the godly trait of patience.

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Patience is NOT one of my virtues! Like everyone else, I feel I cannot wait for Callie to open her eyes, to speak, to walk, to dance! I want to know NOW how Callie's story will end. It's hard to accept that only God can know the end from the beginning.

Yet our Father has a purpose for every moment, whether our trial goes on for months, years, even a lifetime. Only by turning our hearts and wills over to Him can we glimpse His eternal purposes.

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My friend Jill had an experience at church last Sunday many can relate to. When Jill closed the hymn book after the opening hymn, the chorister continued on to the verses printed at the bottom of the page. Everyone scrambled to reopen their books and find the words so rarely sung.

Then their speaker talked of the need to listen to the Spirit, since we cannot know all of God's ways. He concluded with: "Don't close the book until the song is over."
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I love that thought! What blessings might we miss along the way if we focus only on reaching the end of our trials? What opportunities for growth might we overlook?

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As Jill points out, it's often in the darkest depth of our trial that the most meaningful changes occur in our hearts.

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I have an idea I call "The Parable of the Tapestry." To me, my life looks like the back of a tapestry: dangling threads, ugly knots, unrecognizable shapes, twisted strands, mismatched colors.

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After this life, I imagine looking with the Lord upon this jumbled mass. "What was this mess all about?" I'll ask. Then, with a gentle arm about me, in His infinitely loving manner He'll lead me to the front of the tapestry.

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"Here," He will answer, "is the lovely picture we made of your life. Your trials and mistakes are on the back, where they no longer matter. All we see now is the beauty of a soul who increased in faith and learned to love."

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My niece Ashley asked whether there's really such a thing as a tragedy. A good question. From our earthly perspective, many things seem tragic. Yet no loss is permanent, no pain is eternal, if we lay our burdens at the feet of our Savior and walk in His paths.

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Maybe the real tragedy is turning away from the Lord, swallowed up in emptiness and bitterness. How thankful I am that Father in Heaven has prepared a better way for us!

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Sweet Callie, what a great blessing you are to us who love you!