A little background before I get to the HUG part:

When it is late at night and I have had a rough day, I go into Kennady’s room.  She is laying there watching TV. Giggling and rolling around.  The lights are dim and the atmosphere is calming.  No matter what I have gone through that day or what struggles I am concerned about in the future, Kennady’s reality is much worse. However, her demeanor is so comforting.

Throughout the day, she has been unable to tell anyone what she wants.  She has been unable to go where she wants…when she wants.  We give her simple choices by holding up two objects and she often picks what she wants by gazing at one longer than the other.  However, we are unable to know what choices she wants to make.  I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be for her to want something and be unable to tell us.  Sometimes she is in pain and we have to start a long process of elimination.  For example, if her leg is hurting and she is crying we will start working on other parts of her body.  We might give up before we reach her leg and alleviate the pain.  Kennady is without most of the “life incentives” we have.  No future of an education, career, a boyfriend/husband, driving a car, playing sports, etc.  I could go on and on about how her life is a struggle and difficult, but I think most people get the picture.

When considering my day and the concerns that I have, they seem minor when I go into Kennady’s room.  They seem to fall off my shoulders when I walk through the door.  What little might still be clinging to me melts as I wrap my arms around her and she starts to hold me tight.  She starts to comfort me by nuzzling her nose and mouth into my neck as to say, “Don’t worry, Dad.  I know what it is like to struggle through the day.  Everything is going to be ok.”

She is ok with life.  She keeps smiling in the face of adversity. She seems to have mastered Philippians 4:11-13

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

She teaches her father/pastor a spiritual lesson.

Thank you, Jesus for giving me Kennady.  I can’t imagine the Love of God that she must feel inside. She is so content.  The good of God strongly defeats the pain and suffering of the world.  The evidence of God: the Fruit of the Spirit is always in season in her life!  What an unlikely place to hear, feel, and experience the power of God!  In our weakness, he is strong!