A request

It’s a big week in this nation of ours. There is a lot to be hitting our knees about. In fact, at this point, it feels like that’s about the only thing left for us to do.

But for our little family it’s big for other reasons. While others will be heading into poll booths on Tuesday, we’ll be heading into numerous doctor appointments over in Seattle. And as a nation wakes up to the decision they made Wednesday, we’ll wake up for our first surgery for our baby girl. It will be the first time my girl is taken from my arms, behind closed doors, and put under anesthesia. It will be the first time comforting her as she wakes up, still loopy, in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by unfamiliar people and things. It will be the first time curling up in a hospital bed next to her.

All of these things are enough to make my heart tremble, but this surgery is emotional for other reasons.

Whenever people notice Miss Bella’s extra fingers, they usually respond with excitement. “That’s so cool – she’ll be an awesome guitar player someday!” “Wow! You should get her in piano lessons!” “Learning to count by sixes is way better than learning to count by five!” I love the enthusiasm, and the celebration of this unique characteristic of hers. Yet with each comment my heart would also cringe a bit. Because I knew all along this day was coming. The day when we would need to remove those extra fingers.

Unfortunately, Bella doesn’t have control over those sixth fingers. They don’t move with her hand, they’re just there. But here’s the thing. I firmly believe my girl was perfectly made. I love her hands just the way they are. I don’t really want to change a thing about them. But I know looking to the future, in order for her to use her hands to the best of her ability, they have to go.

I know it’s the right decision, yet I still grieve a bit. But in the midst of processing through the emotions of it all, I hear the whispering call of the Father. This is my way, the pruning of things, even good things, for greater fruitfulness. It’s easy to cut off the broken or barren branch, but sometimes we’re called to cut off beautiful branches as well. Called to cut out good things, so that we might be more effective in the place we are called to be right now. And so as we get ready to take our littlest to surgery, I’m also praying and seeking if there are things to be pruned from my own life.

Will you pray for our sweet girl this week, and in the weeks coming? Surgery and a hospital stay will be new and likely scary things for her, but the coming weeks will also be a challenge for our active and independent girly. She’ll be in full arm casts, with her hands completely covered, for three weeks. You can pray for our whole household during this time!

Thank you for continuing to love and pray for our little warrior.

All photos by Kristin Wall.

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