Jonathan is my third nephew and Jordan's younger brother. Jonathan is sweet and very affectionate. He has a smile that lights up his face and a happy personality. Jonathan is special. There is much to be said about Jonathan...
Jonathan was born without a femur bone in one of his legs. The Femur is the bone that connects the knee to the hip, the bone over which are the quadriceps and hamstring muscles. When this happened, the whole family was thrown into unexpected shock. This is an extremely rare occurrence in fetal development, and there seemed to be no apparent reason for why this had happened. Until this day, doctors cannot explain it. Needless to say, my sister and her husband were distraught. Thankfully, besides this, everything else was normal; all his cognitive functions were and remain perfect!! Jonathan is bright and intelligent and expressive. Through the years, Jonathan's condition has been challenging and at times heartbreaking; but the love, faith, and hope that exists between his Father God, his family, and him has far surpassed any hardship along the way. Jonathan has had moments of wondering why and wishing for what most of us usually take for granted, but overall he is content and joyful. He is always grinning from ear to ear, and he never really complains about his disadvantage or much of anything else. Out of all the children, he is the most obedient and cooperative and understanding. Life hasn't dealt him the best cards, but he is so grateful and patient. He believes and trusts in the Lord, even though our human nature would tend to blame God for things beyond our control. He has a giving heart and is so very unselfish. He has been one of my great life teachers in the art of gratitude and counting my blessings. He has suffered the strange looks on peoples faces as they have stared at him awkwardly trying to figure him out, and he has had frustrations when he couldn't do the physical things and activities most kids can easily do, but he always has kept and keeps a gracious and positive attitude that truly humbles me. He is vibrant.. Vibrant the way we all should continually be, having the blessing of all our limbs and all our possibilities.
Jonathan is an shining example of forgiveness, perseverance, and resilience. He likes to be self-sufficient, he enjoys whatever responsibility is delegated to him, and he believes he can do anything by God's loving Grace. He is talented musically and is learning to play the drums. He is also so handsome and tall. He is vulnerable and loving. He loves to give me hugs and kisses and compliments. He loves to joke around and make goofy faces. He has a great relationship with his parents. He admires and looks up to his brother Jordan so much, and Jordan is so protective of him. He and his younger sister Julia are so close too, and the love between all three siblings is unbreakable.
Some things happen for a reason. Sometimes they don't make sense, and sometimes they are simply and irrefutably unfair. But that doesn't mean that beauty cannot come from them. What the enemy or this imperfect existence may mean for bad and pain... God and Love, and the perspectives we take and the actions we choose, can change for something indescribably amazing... something that cannot be bought with money, or that can be faked, or that can be fully understood or put into words... But it is miraculous. Jonathan, you are a miracle.
Jonathan, I look up to you, my precious little one. You are priceless and perfect, and I wouldn't change you for anything in the world. I know it gets tough, but you are definitely up to it!! You can do anything, anything! I have a scripture for you:
Hebrews 10:35-39
35 So do not throw away your fearless confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
37 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back in fear, I will not be pleased with him."
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Thank you Jonathan, for teaching me about faithful endurance, about courage and so much more.. I love you and miss you so much. Sometimes you may feel that you get lost in the middle, but the middle is in the center of my heart. I still believe in miracles. Don't stop believing ;)
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