Reflection

When I was probably within my first 6 years of life, I enjoyed Ballet class. I bet you can imagine a room with mirror lined walls, a dance floor and a banister. I was one of the girls in tights and pink leotards with their hair in tight little buns.

Now that I look back, I feel somewhat hypocritical.   Because no matter how beautifully I paint my past, I am grateful to the Lord that He steered me away from that. My Mom pointed out that I spent a lot of the time of ballet class gazing adoringly at myself in the mirror.  Of course, I don’t remember that, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true.  That’s probably exactly what happened. It’s perfectly natural for little girls to be evil, but that’s not my point. My point is that my worst enemy is and has always been either myself or the mirror. 

If you happen to observe my room, you might notice a distinct lack of mirrors. To me, mirrors feed arrogance and breed contempt for yourself or for others.  When I was a child, I adored myself in a mirror. Now when I spend too much time looking in the mirror, I see all my ugly flaws and faults of mine and I despise myself. It is really tempting sometimes to wish I could swing a sledgehammer into our floor length mirror. The only time I find a mirror useful is to fix something I do not usually see.  People have asked me what my favorite Disney princess is. I have thought up and told different answers to different people. But I relate to Mulan because she struggles with her reflection. I still do not like my reflection in the mirror, but I’ve learned to trust what God says about me instead of trusting what my reflection says about me.  I am honored to be who God says I am. I guess it takes faith in the Lord to know who I truly am because I am the Lord’s; therefore, I can only find my true identity in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A-T Hope Cure

A while ago, my mom told me that the ATCP wanted people with A-T to make a video saying that they needed a cure. When she asked me if I would make one, I declined. I didn't want to say I "needed" a cure. I decided to write explaining why. Some may think it absurd or offensive, but I don’t care--it’s true.  I don’t need a cure because I already have one. God is my cure. He gives me life and purpose through His great love. The following verses explain what the Bible says about God as a cure:

John 3:16-- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 11:25-- Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Jeremiah 29:11--  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

John 16:33-- I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

The Bible is full of examples of healing and restoration through faith in the Lord. My A-T is no different than any other kind of “trouble” or “perishing” that Christ is talking about in John 16:33 and 3:16. I have faith that He has overcome it.  

Secondly, God has shown me His love in the friends and family He has given me.  He has proven to me that if I did not have A-T, I would not have met so many of my friends. God provides a cure for me through these kindred spirits, showing me His love through them. Around them, I can really come out and be myself! Also, God does not only give me friends for just me, but He lets me serve Him by ministering to them as well. With my friends, I get to be blessed and be a blessing.  

I don’t mean to say that there can’t or shouldn’t be a medical cure for A-T. I would still wish for a cure to bring hope to others and especially to children in the future who will be diagnosed. Even though I know He could, I don’t believe that God is going to cure me medically from A-T. God has His own reasons, and I may not ever know exactly what they are. But this I know: He gave me A-T for His own reason, and He is not done with me.

For all people affected by A-T who don’t know Him, I pray that they will someday accept the love of Christ, so that they can know a cure like I’ve come to know.