I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." (3 John 1:2)
Healthy in body and strong in spirit. How vital it is to aim for both! Yet when there are unavoidable "body" challenges, how much more important is it to be strong in spirit - and teach our kids to be the same?
I know many of you have navigated these challenges. We have, too. Some of you know our family's story, of a devastating type of epilepsy erupting in my son Luke as he was turning 11 years old. It upended the trajectory of his life, as the processing issues in his brain meant he had to learn how to read again, struggle to make friends, and spend hours on schoolwork he used to complete in minutes. It broke my heart as a mom.
When these issues arise, we long for our children, our family members, or ourselves to be physically healed. But sometimes, God instead says "wait." And He forges a resilience and depth in our spirits that we never would have known otherwise.
That's what happened with Luke. He pressed through challenges that would have caused grown adults to crumble, and never lost hope. He had to learn true trust in God - so today he is indeed "strong in the spirit."
The Apostle John's greeting to his dear friend Gaius reflects the heart of God toward all of us as His dear children. Both physical health and strength of spirit matter to Him.
This simple little devotional can help lead you and your kids into a deeper understanding of who God is as our creator, physician, provider, protector, and comforter. Each day focuses on a different aspect of God's care for us. These are such important concepts for children to grasp. All children. Thank you for all you are doing to bring these aspects of God's great love to children through Compassion, as well!