One year. Fighting strong!

One year ago, I was in Evansville, Indiana on a work trip. Just after breakfast, Elizabeth called telling me Nathan had three seizures and was being transported to Erlanger Hospital. In a matter of days, our lives would forever be altered. It's hard to really explain all the shifts. Maybe we simply gained a perspective which can only be attained after being shaken from the complacent position where most of us spend a large chunk of our lives. You know the place. It's where we take things for granted, put off that trip until next year, or cut the vacation short because it's just hard to get that many days off work together. All of that changed the month June of 2015.

Nothing, I mean nothing is taken for granted anymore. Every holiday, every possible weekend to bask in time together has been wrestled for, and planned with much intention. It's funny how I'd never consider doing it any other way now. It just goes to show you how a diagnosis can turn a ship with the greatest of ease.

Last week, we had one of those glorious times. It's a week I always look forward to every year but this year was special. We made our way down to Carillion Beach just east of Rosemary Beach. Hannah, Cal and the pre-school drove down, as did Nathan, Elizabeth and Jackaroo. I flew down because car rides are long and Mussy is spoiled!

I won the lottery and got to be the one to take Nathan back to Birmingham for his scheduled infusion on Monday. We drove back on Sunday, spent the night, had the infusion and drove back on Monday. As I think about it, it's been years since I've had that kind of time with Nathan. What a gift!!

The thing is, Nathan is different. I mean, Nathan is really different. In some ways he's the same ol' Na Na. Elizabeth is different also. She has blossomed into a beautiful servant. Laying down every dream she had for herself and family to embark on a narrative she'd never write or want. They both amaze me. However, after having two wonderful days to myself with Na Na alone, I saw him in a new light.

We set out on Sunday for the four plus hour drive back to UAB. We talked about everything you could possible imagine. Some of it was inconsequential. We solved most of the worlds problems!! Then there were some painful discussions. We talked of plans, plans no mom would ever want to consider. We listened to Pat Metheny, Nickel Creek, Coldplay and some various rap (he's always liked it, it's not my thing but I tolerated it)!

There was also the Waffle House in Montgomery (because Nathan loves Waffle House)! It was an awkward time of day for dinner (3:30), but when you are on the Na Na schedule you eat at odd times. We were the only ones in the restaurant, shocker. We cleaned our plates and I went to the bathroom so we could get on the road. When I came out, Nathan was paying for our early bird dinner. The sweet lady working was telling him she couldn't make change for his large bill. I told him I had money but he told me no, he said, "If you will give me a water to go, we'll be square. Just keep the change." That waitress was astounded. She honestly didn't know what to say. We got in the car and she was grinning from ear to ear. You could see her telling the cook what had just happened. We drove away and I thought wow, my boy, loving folks like Jesus. (He's probably going to kill me for telling this story!)

I say all that to say this. Nathan is different because Nathan has become more and more like Jesus. I made a list of characteristics I see growing in him and they all are things we can't produce. In the midst of an uncertain future he has an immovable peace. Spend just a few minutes with him and you'll see it. He doesn't sweat the small stuff. He's very present to the situation he's in. You won't find him selfishly doing his own thing, unless he's not feeling well. Generosity has grown exponentially. How he treats each and every person he comes in contact with shows how much he respects them, whoever they are. I love to see how teachable he is too. I can suggest something I've read or heard and he's interested enough to listen or read it himself. He's living authentically, speaking truth and hitting things head on. Nathan's heart has become soft, his essence is light. When he talks, I want to hear what he has to say because it's weighty and wise. I can see he not only knows about God, he knows him. Plus, he trusts him. It's the ONLY way he can exude such a peace.

I've prayed for Nathan even before he was my child. His name means, a gift from God. He is just that. This year has undoubtably been the most formidable year of his life. It's like most things in God's kingdom. What looks like death is life. What seems like a situation that would bring despair is instead a compass directing us to a life that's full and free. Abundent life is now oozing out of him. For the first time ever, he's in tandem for that which he was made. For all of us, he's showing the way. He's pointing each and every one of us to live in a way that's different. Primarily, to love one another deeply. Supernaturally, Nathan is being transformed into the very likenes of Christ. As Tim Keller says, we are living in an upside down kingdom, the way up is the way down. The way to greatness is by way of lowliness. To save your life~ you loss it. Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. We can't muster this stuff up. We can't make a grape vine produce grapes. A seed has to die before life breaks forth.  My amazing son is breaking forth. He laid down his very life and by doing so, he found it.  I think Philipians 3:20.21 says it best. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

We are having the privilege of seeing this transformation here and now. What a testimony he is to the saving love of Jesus. Praise God from where all blessings flow.

In Him,
Gretchen