Gavin

At four-and-a-half months old, Gavin knows far more of hospitals and doctors than some of us will ever know. He was born with Down's Syndrome and serious heart defects. Right now he is living in the children's hospital in Ann Arbor, where he had heart surgery in early January. His mom stays with him there, and his dad and three older brothers remain at home and visit on the weekends. Pictures of Gavin reveal an adorable baby boy who has a loving family, but some of the pictures look like lots and lots of tubes and medical equipment, with a teeny baby attached. But for such a little person, Gavin has assumed a large presence in our home and obviously in the homes of his other family members and friends.

Gavin and his family are members of the same church our family attends. Every day I check his mom's CarePages blog to see how Gavin is, and when I come home from work, my children want a report about Gavin. We pray for him, his family, and his doctors and nurses each night during family devotions. After what looked to be a promising surgery and some slow but steady progress, the last two days have been discouraging as Gavin's condition has worsened. Understandably, Gavin's mom wants to take him home so she can take care of him and the rest of her family too.

Gavin may have experienced far too much pain and sickness for such a small boy, but he also knows an amazing love that, sadly for them, some children will never know. That's another thing that pictures of him and his family show. I am always moved when our pastor prays for Gavin each week; he often refers to Gavin as "the weakest among us." But it's okay that he's the weakest among us; even the strongest among us is weak. We all need that power that is made perfect in weakness, that only comfort (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). It is good to know that even the weakest among us is protected by the strongest Strength possible, and in that, even the weakest among us is strong.

Please pray for Gavin and his family if they come to mind, that God will renew their strength as they persevere through this time of sickness and trial.