the poop behind and for judging him in the past. He graciously accepted my apology, told me I was forgiven, and closed the door. The poop ordeal was finally over. Now, I know this whole story may seem silly to some. But for me, it was a serious matter; it was a test of obedience. God had revealed something in my heart that offended Him. He had revealed judgment toward my neighbor. Now it was up to me. I could repent and ask for forgiveness and move forward with God, or I could refuse to obey and get stuck. I don’t ever want to be stuck… especially in dog poop. Maybe you are asking God for more too—more of Him, more wisdom, more knowledge, more blessings, more impact, more responsibility. But how can we expect God to give us more if we can’t be trusted with what we have now? How can we expect more if we refuse to obey what God is telling us to do now? If we won’t be faithful where we are, we surely won’t be faithful at the next level. I mean, think about it. If I can’t be trusted with loving my neighbor and having enough integrity to pick up dog poop, how can I expect to be entrusted with a worldwide ministry? Is there something God has asked you to go back and make right? Has He revealed something offensive in your heart? Take it from me. Stop wrestling with God and just do what He’s told you to do. If He has told you to remove something from your life, remove it. If He’s told you to let go of something or someone, let go. If He’s told you to forgive, forgive. If He has told you to ask for forgiveness, then ask for forgiveness. Whatever it is, just do it and do it in its entirety! Delayed or partial obedience is disobedience. No more justification or reasoning. It’s time to move forward, and obedience is the only way. Will you pray with me? We can use Psalm 139:23–24 as a guide. Search me, God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You and give me the strength to obey so You can lead me along the path of everlasting life. �� THE GIFT OF HALEY | from page 9 ______________________________________________________________________ Don’t be afraid of what you don’t understand. Ask questions so you know what’s going on. Learn to love people who are different—you’ll be amazed at what you can learn about living from someone in this situation. coincidences—a call from a stranger, a visit or an encouraging word from a friend, a message from a sermon, a verse—they just seemed to come at our greatest moments of despair. God always knew what we needed to keep going. And God used Haley to encourage others to be more thankful and to stop whining about insignificant things. He also led us to help others in their SMA journeys. As we allowed God into our situation, we were blessed. KOJ: What did God teach you through Haley? Jeff: Haley dealt with discomfort and illness every day. Sometimes just breathing was a struggle. But she never whined, complained, or even acted frustrated. When she went into respiratory distress, we had minutes to turn it around or she’d die. As we’d work on her, she would look at us with complete trust. There was no panic in her eyes. Haley taught me what trusting God looks like. It’s resting in His arms when your world is falling apart. Val: Haley taught me to love life despite adversity. People would look at her and say, “I wouldn’t want to live like that.” But Haley wanted to live! She loved life and fought for it every day. Haley has shaped how we all live. Kelsie is just completing her Masters degree to become a speech pathologist. She is motivated by her experiences with Haley. Her favorite quote is, “If you can, you must.” We all feel an urgency and responsibility to do what we can to help others. KOJ: What’s your favorite memory with Haley? Val: I’ll never forget the day I took Haley to school for her birthday. She was in the second grade. The kids were so excited to see her. A line of little girls helped me push Haley along the path. Some would hold her head. Then they’d stop, switch positions, and we’d continue on. I thanked the girls for being so kind and helpful. Then one little girl looked at me, smiled, and said, “Oh, Mrs. Mitchell, we love Haley. She is just so… so…perfect! These little girls didn’t see Haley as a disabled child. They saw her with God’s eyes. Jeff: I always loved watching her reaction to people. Haley was physically disabled—she couldn’t move or talk—but she was very bright. When people saw her, they almost all assumed she was mentally incapable of comprehending what was going on. They often talked to her in loud, slow voices and treated her like a baby. Haley was so patient, but occasionally, she would have enough. She’d look at us with this certain look, and then roll her eyes back. Sometimes she’d close them and completely check out. It was too funny. KOJ: I so appreciate your talking with us today and sharing your story with our readers. Is there anything else you’d like to tell them? Val: I just want to encourage others to look at disabled people with compassion. I wish adults had the same compassion and empathy for others that those secondgraders had. Don’t be afraid of what you don’t understand. Ask questions so you know what’s going on. Learn to love people who are different—you’ll be amazed at what you can learn about living from someone in this situation. Jeff: I want people to know that it’s possible to thrive in the face of adversity. Our marriage is stronger and our lives are richer because of our family’s fight with SMA. With God and a heart that’s determined to live well and love well, all things are possible. �� kojministries.org Issue 2 2017 33
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