My older brother was born with Down\u2019s Syndrome. I could fill volumes with Michael’s antics and the little lessons he taught me over his nearly 60 years of life, but I would like to share just one. Some years past, an uncle suffered a stroke, and there was a concern he might not survive. Michael had experienced family funerals, so the matter’s seriousness\u00a0did not escape him. My parents brought him to my house for \u201csister time\u201d on their way to the hospital.<\/p>\n
At one point in this visit, he crooked his finger at me to follow him. He said, \u201cCome into my office.\u201d I chuckled to myself as \u201chis office\u201d was really my office. He shut the door, led me to a chair, and told me to \u201csit.\u201d He then sat next to me, leaned forward to look at me with tears filling his eyes, and said, \u201cMy mom told me that when I die, Jesus is going to take me to heaven.\u201d Getting choked up myself, I said, \u201cThat is right, Mike. And there will be such a party that day when all the angels and saints are singing and dancing.\u201d Michael loves many things, but parties and dancing are among his favorites.<\/p>\n
By now, tears are streaming down his face, and he leans forward even more to ask, \u201cBut how is he going to get me out of that box (casket)?\u201d With my heart aching for his anxiety, I answered, \u201cOh, Michael, Jesus has the key.\u201d In an instant, his face was swallowed by a smile that stretched from ear to ear. He said, \u201cOK,\u201d stood up, wiped his face on his shirt sleeve, and walked back to his Star Wars movie, completely at peace. I sat there and thought, \u201cOh, Donna, Ye of little faith.\u201d No matter how challenging life\u2019s situations are, Jesus holds the key. It really is that simple.<\/p>\n
My brother was born with imperfect physical abilities, and imperfect cognitive abilities\u2014but he possesses perfect faith. I pray everyone who reads this reflection can be blessed with faith like Mike.\n<\/p>\n
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
\nThe\u00a0LORD\u00a0is the everlasting God,
\nthe Creator of the ends of the earth.<\/p>\n
He does not faint or grow weary,
\nhis understanding is unsearchable.
\nHe gives power to the faint,
\nand to him who has no might he increases strength.
\nEven youths shall faint and be weary,
\nand young men shall fall exhausted;<\/p>\n
but they who wait for the\u00a0LORD\u00a0shall renew their strength, <\/p>\n Yours in the Heart of Jesus,<\/em><\/p>\n Donna Garrett<\/em><\/p>\n NOTE: Donna’s brother, Michael, passed away on February 15, 2023.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Friends, My older brother was born with Down\u2019s Syndrome. I could fill volumes with Michael’s antics and the little lessons he taught me over his nearly 60 years of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":148082,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6616],"tags":[3019,3493],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-144369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weekly-message","tag-faith","tag-trust"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"","pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nthey shall mount up with wings like eagles,
\nthey shall run and not be weary,
\nthey shall walk and not faint.
\nIsaiah 40:28-31<\/em><\/p>\n