Journal Entry 3/27 From Kristi

“This hasn’t felt like a trial...”

I had such a great conversation with Zachary today. We were traveling in the car together, running around town on our sunny, free Saturday... and he was fidgeting with his fingers, stretching out the new pointer finger that just started working. “It’s like Christmas every day,” he told me. “Just waiting to see which new body part God is gonna unlock. I have so much to be thankful for. From day one, ‘I’ll Give Thanks’ has been my theme song. It’s like it was written for me before I’ve even lived it.

“And I wouldn’t describe this as a “trial”. It hasn’t felt like one. A trial is something with no hope, where things feel out of control.”

Wow, Amen, Zac.

And then we began to consider the words of his “theme song”:

“In the silence, I choose to believe

You're working in the waiting...

Though the future isn't clear to me,

I trust You anyway...

Every breath I breathe an invitation

To believe You are creating

Something good....

Though this season doesn't tell my story

I know You'll move mountains for me

You're just that good....

So I'll give thanks to God,

When I don't have enough,

'Cause He's more than enough,

And He knows what I need...

So why do I worry?

God knows what I need....”

My 18 year old boy is paralyzed and he doesn’t see it as a trial... this mystifies the mind, until you come hang out with him... and you hear him laugh, and you see his peace, and his joy, and his trust in the goodness of God’s deep love for him. And somehow what doesn’t make sense in Zac’s story suddenly makes perfectly good sense; God is in control and it’s that simple.

He tells me this does not feel like a trial. He tells me that a trial is circumstance without hope. Indeed, #zacsHope is Jesus and that makes all the difference in the world for him.

Kevin came to visit us this week and we had such a blessed time with him. Our family is such a continual encouragement and source of strength. So thankful that Kevin was able to go into Zac’s therapy classes and see first-hand the awesome work he is doing.

Most exciting this week was when Zac was put in the Exoskeleton, a powered lower limb orthosis (Craig Hospital was the first to receive this), which RESPONDS to leg movement to take a robotic step. Zac’s physical therapist confirmed she is seeing trace movements in his abs, quads, and hip flexors. Somehow, Zac was able to trigger the slightest motion in his legs/hips and the Exoskelton finished the step for him.

Once again I am reminded how the Lord multiples our smallest effort. He is so good.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should WALK in them.” Eph. 2:10