Life in the Midst of Death

Make sure to read my last post before reading this update on Constance! 

After the long day, Constance was able to spend the night with me, which I was very glad about. I knew she would be safe and get some much needed rest and food while also starting her medication for the HIV and pneumonia. When my team met for worship, prayer and sharing time Wednesday night, everyone wanted an update on Constance and expected to hear that from me since I had been with her all day. Despite the obvious need for me to tell about how the day had been or what I had experienced, I had no words. I literally could not think of anything that I could say that would describe the news I had heard and the work the Lord was doing in my own heart. I knew it was still too soon for me to say anything about the day, because I had not processed it and there was still so much running through my head and the Lord was still doing so much in my heart. So I remained silent. I wondered, though, what I would say to people about the day and how I would even go about communicating the whole ordeal. The Lord faithfully showed me exactly what it was that would stand out through the whole situation and what would be most important to share. 

I slept in the room with Constance so she would not get scared or feel alone, especially in light of the circumstances. I was not able to sleep on and off throughout the night, so I just prayed over her for healing and for strength in the days ahead. She woke me up at 6:30 and I took her into the living room and we sat together on the couch. I didn’t really know what to do with her because it was so early and no one else was up and it seemed too early to eat breakfast, so I got a Bible and we started reading scripture together. 

We started in Ephesians, because she said it was her favorite book. I asked if she wanted to start in chapter 1 and she said no, but she did want to read Chapter 6 because she it was her favorite chapter and she wanted to start in verse 1 because it was also her favorite verse. Now, if you are anything like me (it is very possible and even likely that you aren’t), then this passage would seem very familiar to you because a) you went to Sunday School every week growing up and it was read nearly every week and b) you were a strong-willed/rebellious child so it was one of the verses that you were most often pointed to during a punishment, because you had failed to follow its instruction. Whatever the case, as Constance continued to narrow the focus of what verse she wanted to read, I was thinking “Surely, she will not chose to read the verse that talks about obeying your parents.” Sure enough, she did. I was shocked by this first of all because this was a verse that I avoided as much as possible as a child and teenager because it brought conviction that I often did not want to receive and second because she is an orphan, meaning she is without parents to obey. I was so puzzled that out of all of the verses in the Bible, this was her favorite one, a verse that instructed her to honor someone who she doesn’t even have in her life.  I couldn’t believe that she would intentionally read a verse that seemed like it would bring so much pain and simply remind her of her pitiful state. But that’s just what I realized; she longs to have parents in order that she can fulfill that commandment. Even though her father is dead (from AIDS) and her mother abandoned her, she longs to have loving parents, just the way the Lord intended it to be. Yet another reminder to me of what how fallen this world is…

We went through the whole chapter and I asked her where else she wanted to read. She told me John 1, so we went through that chapter, which not only went through Christ coming to earth, but also explained how we are adopted as children of God, different from a natural birth (vs 12-13). We discussed this passage in depth and it was such a joy to be able to explain to her that even though she doesn’t have earthly parents, she has a heavenly father whose love for her never falters. It was also so cool to be able to confirm that she does have an active and personal relationship with Jesus. We ended our time that morning by praying together. As I sat holding her hands, I was amazed to hear this 15 year old girl pray for healing in her own body and yet again the Lord was increasing my faith even more. 

Our time together that morning was sweet and sacred as we talked of how we both knew our souls were secured eternally in Christ. I thank God for the precious time He gave me with Constance and I praise Him for his triumph over the grave that even in the midst of a debilitating disease that brings death, Constance has found Life eternal!