Meaning of life

A funeral today. Savanah.

Such a little petite child who was born a year and two weeks ago with very little hope of survival. 

I first met her at the Davis hospital a week after she was born, she was so fragile and hooked up to several machines. 

Every doctor prepared her mother's heart for the inevitable even before she was born. But each doctor assured her mom that she would likely not make it a month and surely not to her first birthday. 

So you can understand why Savanahs first birthday was a huge celebration. That little baby fought for her life with the prayers of many and the helping hands of loved ones. 

A week after her birthday, mom noticed a change in health. A common cold that to anyone else would be annoying but for Savanah it was life threatening. The cold developed into RSV and therefore hospitalization. After a week of fighting the sickness her family helped her with her wings and watched her fly to heaven. 

Today, during the celebration of her life, as I was confined in the nursery with my own children- healthy and far too busy to be in the service, I found myself asking God Why? What was the point in giving this mother a child, only to take it away after such a life of hardship? What was the point? His answer was almost immediate: Savannah's mom needed her. 

     Savannah's mom, was an addict. I met her children nearly 5 years ago, long before I met her. Her kids were part of our ministry. Her oldest in the youth, her middle hung out in CANClub. They are some of our originals if you will. Both were so full of anger! As I grew to know and love each of them I learned that they were in the system, foster kids. As you can imagine, knowing this, I loved them even more! 

     Over time I prayed with them, watching them sheath their anger and distrust, little by little, in exchange for happiness. I watched them develop and own a relationship with The Lord. I can hardly come near her son without him jumping on me with a hug, he is now a junior leader with me on Wednesday nights at CanClub and attends youth. 

    I remember when she regained custody of her kids, I remember praying with both of them as the kids were hesitant. I remember her son crying because she was going to move him away to Sac. 

    Two summers ago I watched both he and his mom get baptized. I remember hugging her, telling her how much I loved her son and how proud I was of her and her progress. She said she wanted to thank me, for it was her son who lead her to the Lord, and she credited me in part to leading her son to the Lord. 

      And in that moment, at Savannah's funeral, I realized that Savannah's life, as short as it seemed to me brought sobriety to Her mom, healing and bonding to her family, and a church family that embraced the whole family with open arms. Savannah brought wholeness to her formerly broken home. And although I don't know why God took her, I was able to see that she, in one short year, fulfilled her life's purpose. 

Note: Happy Mother's Day Valerie. You are an amazing woman and it has been my honor and privilege to call you friend.  May God continue to show you Savannah's light as you grow in the path that she has revealed.