For a few weeks now I have been aware that I would be sharing one of the most difficult chapters of my life with you. Usually when I write a devotion, I change the names of the people in it. I cannot bring myself to do that this time. My precious grandbaby’s real name was Aeva Novia, a name that means ‘heroic sweetheart’. The name fit her perfectly throughout the course of her long and painful ordeal. Now Aeva is in the presence of Jesus. I still trust Him with her life. With Him now, she is more alive than ever before. When I first realized I would be sharing about Aeva Novia, I assumed the subject would be on how we are to deal with the grief we experience, but God has taken me in a different direction.
When Aeva was seven months old she had an emergency surgery. No one at the time was aware that Aeva had an underlying health issue. During surgery, her systems crashed. Aeva went into a coma and was put on life support. Over a period of months our precious little one went through surgeries, tests,
treatments, drugs, therapies, a breathing tube, constant vomiting and later, a feeding tube. Eventually she was able to move from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, through other units, and finally home. I had been told early on by a nurse that she would probably never be more than a vegetable, but Aeva proved
her wrong. At the age of twelve-and-a-half months she was quite alert, pulling herself up into a standing position and playing with toys. That was exactly what she was doing the last time I saw her alive. Three days later my daughter was giving her a bottle as they were getting ready for a doctor appointment (no
more feeding tube finally). Aeva suddenly started to squirm, let out two screams, and died in my daughter’s arms. We were all desperately shocked. We really thought she was going to make it.
Back when Aeva’s original surgery failed and was halted, while she was in a coma and on life support, I came to the precious, endangered child I so deeply loved. I was dazed by a dreadful level of pain and numbness as I looked at her. She was still and gray. I could not even see a hint of life. As I stared at her
the Lord impressed upon my heart, “This is how many of my children appear to Me”. That left me with such a sinking feeling. Just as I felt with Aeva, and really even more so, God longs to see His children thrive. He wants us to choose the abundant life that comes from a consistently growing relationship with Jesus. He wants to revive those among us who scarcely exist. He also wants those who never have known a relationship with Him to draw their first breaths and begin life as healthy newborns in the faith.
Listen as the people of God are admonished to come alive before it is too late. Listen sincerely and respond wholeheartedly: These are the words of Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come to you like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Rev 3:1-3 (NIV) Let’s ask ourselves the following: Do I trust God enough to know that what He says, He means? Will I pay attention as He shows me my heart? Am I reachable and teachable? Am I willing to live and thrive?