Tiny Warriors

image borrowed from internet source

I hold those tiny warm pink feet in my hand and I am mesmerized by the perfection.  I stroke the fine creases on his silky sole and his toes curl around my finger, grasping tightly.  I smile.  I run my fingers along each little toe, smaller than tiny sweet peas in a pod, and I marvel at knowing that these brand new feet are already walking the journey of life.....and it must be so hard. 

Lungs heave, limbs flail, and the heart beats wildly in response to the foreign world around him. Bright lights shine above him and voices speak.  No longer is the warmth and muffled sounds from the womb.  No longer is the whooshing of his mother's heart or the endless and effortless sleep. Everything's different now, and there's no going back.

No matter how hard we try to simulate the environment that nurtured him before now,  it will never be the same.  But deep inside that tiny little body is a will to survive.  Along with those caring for him, and that amazing will, he has a chance.  He begins this part of his journey prematurely, but nevertheless, each step is measured carefully and with determination and Grace.  The journey becomes not just about him, but about countless others who invest their Love and care in the precious moments of his life.  Hearts change as  these tiny steps are witnessed, and this time.....this trying, difficult, emotional, beautiful, exhausting and magical time, becomes etched in a way that forever marks the soul. Like the grasp of those tiny fingers, this experience grabs hold of us in a way leaves us better than before.

My life has been marvelously touched as I have worked in the NICU for the past 18 years.  Some may not believe in Miracles, but I have seen them first hand.  Some may not understand why we work so hard to save the tiniest of tiny ones, but I have seen what happens in the hearts of those who love them.  Some may not think they can bear the sadness when a battle is lost, but I've seen God's grace come so near that His breath can almost be felt on on the wilted shoulders of the mourning. And  I have seen lives change as a result of walking the journey with these strong little warriors. A legacy is left in the wake of the passing, and multitudes of paths of others are flowered with the sweet petals of tender love.

I can't help but think about the love of the Father.  Our journeys are under His watch.  As we flail and struggle to survive this part of life, His will keeps us alive, because His will was accomplished through the death of His only Son Jesus.  No matter how hard we try to make this world heaven, it will never be our forever Heaven.  So each step of our journey must be measured carefully with determination and grace. In Him, our life's journey becomes not just about us, but about countless others who touch our lives and about the One who gave us eternal life.  His evidence in our lives is love.  And even though this life is difficult, exhausting, and emotionally draining at times, it is beautiful.  As we live in reflection of His grace in our hard times, others are touched in ways that reach deep into their soul and they changed in ways indescribable.

The path to Him is flowered with sweet petals of His tender love, and leads to our "forever Heaven" where there will be no more pain, no more suffering, and every tear will be wiped away.


He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  Rev. 21:4