The Least of TheseSample

Strength through weakness - Eric

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Our son, Eric, had a difficult birth; but seemed to be fine until his first Grand Mal Seizure before his first birthday. He was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy (no known cause). Our pediatrician told us he would die before the age of 20. Even though he was brilliant in his early years – memorizing many books and over 30 Scripture verses; he gradually lost all of that and reverted to approximately one year old mentally and socially while experiencing thousands of seizures. One of his favorite scriptures was Micah 3:8,

I am filled with power, with the spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might.

He loved Jesus as much as he was able to and was baptized at the age of 15.

He was often in and out of emergency rooms, and even though we enrolled him in a school for special needs, he soon had to drop out because he caught every disease any of the other children came to school with. When he was about 40, he was finally diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. He broke both of his hips in different accidents from falls because of the seizures, which put him in a wheelchair for many years. In his middle 40s, he developed colon cancer, which was removed surgically but came back. He went to be with Jesus at the age of 49 (7x7) – a multiple of God’s perfect number.

We learned so much about how much God cares for special children. One friend told us: “his body may have problems, and his mind may be slow – but his spirit is perfect.

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

We thought God needed to heal Eric for Eric to be fine and glory to God. We were wrong! Eric was just fine in God’s sight – and in heaven now, he will never have another problem. Jesus revealed what real Life is.

Reflection: We were the ones who needed to change, and that change came from complete dependence on Jesus Christ. He told us to -

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest. Luke 9:48: