Morning

Most of you know about Danielle Loftus.  I have written about her here before.  She is now 17 years old but when she was just 14 she was injured in a jet ski accident.  She has been in a semiconscious state ever since.  

Her family is an amazing testament to faith in God!  They hold firmly to the fact that she will be completely healed and restored in this world.  Even though outwardly she shows little progress they cling to the hope of the Lord.  They believe in His promises.  But in the meantime they painstakingly care for her.

This is not an easy task and while they do have their moments but overall they live a very positive life.  It is amazing to see this faith not just in her parents but in her younger sisters as well.  If you ever have times that you may be feeling sorry for yourself just go to www.PrayForDanielle.com and in no time you will realize how petty your problems truly are.

I was listening to Danielle's mother, Lynell, recount the story of Danielle's accident.  She told about the initial event, the helicopter lift to another hospital, the excruciating days of not knowing whether she would live or die.  The night she and her husband surrendered Danielle to the Lord and the promise they received that she would be healed.

Those days grew into weeks, months, and now years.  There have been very small signs of recovery but Danielle still needs constant care.  She still has no motor skills.  She must still be fed through a feeding tube.  Everything must be done for her.

As Lynell was telling this she was asked how she could keep thinking Danielle would still be healed?  Wasn't she just setting herself up for disappointment?  Lynell's response still rings in my ears.  She said, "If I did not have hope, how could I go on?  It is that hope every morning that gives me the energy I need for that day."

It immediately reminded me of the Scripture I had just been reading in Lamentations.

Lamentations 3:22-24 (New Living Translation)

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
    therefore, I will hope in him!”

I can still hear my Mom's sweet voice singing as she worked around the house.  She loved to sing hymns.  One that she liked to sing was Great Is Thy Faithfulness.  The end of it goes like this:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

God is faithful.  His promises are true.  His love is everlasting.  Hallelujah!