Emma

I have a friend.

Her daughter, Emma,  just had her 17th birthday the beginning of August.

Emma.

Emma has never sat by herself, stood, walked, talked, dressed herself, fed herself.

She has never crawled into bed with her mom and dad, but they have crawled into bed with her.

She has never begged for a birthday party with her friends, but every year they have a big birthday celebration with family and friends and a table loaded with good food and birthday cake.

She has never irritated her mom by pestering her to go to the movies with her friends.   But Emma has been to lots of movies that all kids her age like to see.

Emma goes to the beach, and wears a bathing suit.

She goes to church, the mall, the flea market, the doctors office, the hospital.  She goes on vacation.

She wears all the latest fashions!  And has the greatest hair ever!

And talk about a teenagers room....Emma has a room that any teenager would long for.

She's run a 5K, right in front of her dad as he proudly pushes her jogging wheelchair.

She has bookshelves full of books.  And likes Harry Potter.

She's never told her mom and dad how much she loves them, but they have told her continuously how much they love her.

And although unspoken, she lets them know when she is content, when she is hurting, hungry, uncomfortable, happy, sad.  Or when she thinks something is funny, or when she is mad!  And Emma lets them know that she loves them, and her grandparents, and cousins, and brother, and aunts and uncles.

I've known Emma since she was born.  Her birth caused me to know her parents and to be a part of their lives regularly for several years while they lived in upstate New York.

I've been a Christian for 50 years.

This family teach me Jesus.