Blessed by granting "wishes"....

I've done lots of "Wishes" over the past several years.  Yesterday, I spent the morning granting a wish for a child (and his family) who stole my heart.  I've done wishes where the child is on the back end of his/her treatment and the wish is somewhat of a "celebration" to completing treatment.  I've met kids who were in Stage 4 "blast crisis" situations.  Kids who were not supposed to live very long.  A little over a year ago, I met a 2 year old in this situation.  Her Mom openly cried the first time we met.  It was the first time I cried in front of a family (I usually do that in my car on the way home).  The odds were definitely against this little girl.  The ladies in my bible study at Desert View prayed for this little girl regularly.  This past May, she went on her "Wish" to meet Tinkerbell at Walt Disney World.  She is in remission today, cancer-free.  This taught me that odds are not reliable.  Doctors don't always have the answers.  Only God knows the days we have.  He has the answers.  And, He can choose to heal a little girl who shouldn't have lived more than a few months.

So, this brings me back to the "Wish" I got to be a part of yesterday.  Mitchell is in the beginning of his treatment.  He has Acute Lymphatic Leukemia.  He just turned 10.  His hair is in the process of falling out and he is going to begin radiation this next round of treatment.  His family is positive and loving so he will be surrounded with exactly what he needs.  To date, I've never met a family so thankful and humble, so genuine and appreciative.  Mitchell's mom emailed me yesterday to thank me (and the other Wish Granter) for "making them feel like royalty". What do you say to that?  Well, I had to say "you're welcome" but I also had to tell her that they blessed me and touched my heart far more than anything I could have done for their family.

I'm not always comfortable when people say "what you do is awesome", "you're so great to do that".  I mean, those are super kind words and I appreciate them.  But, I volunteer with Make-a-Wish because that is what Jesus would do.  In the Bible, He says we are to care for the SICK, poor, widowed, orphaned as if we are caring for Him.  That is what I strive to do....care for the children I meet just as Jesus would.  Love them just as Jesus would.  God knew all along that they would bless ME way more than I could ever bless them.

Here is a little video I did for Mitchell and his family.