Sylvie and Sydney
Amazing Grace!
If you are not familiar with the story of little Sydney, please read these previous posts: Pray for Sydney, Update, “God will give me strength…”, Nurse Angels, “I can’t kiss her enough”, “He will help me heal…”, Three Minutes of Wonderful, Happy six months…, Sydney is in a better place. As you may recall, Sylvie’s daughter had scimitar syndrome which involves a complex congenital heart defect. Little Sydney recently passed away.
As I sat in church this morning, I had Sylvie Stephen’s latest Caring Bridge post heavy on my mind. I thought to myself, “As soon as I get home, I’m going to email Sylvie and ask if I can post her letter on Nathan’s Prayer.“ When I walked in the door, I went straight to my laptop, opened my email, and guess what! She had already emailed me with permission to use it. I encourage you to pass this gift around:
Now, I’m not one for college ball. I love the NFL, but I’m watching the UF-Alabama game anyway. I’ve
Tebow's message had special meaning for Sylvie, a mother who recently lost her daughter.
heard all the hype about Tebow, but really never gave him much interest.
I looked up today the scripture he had on his eye black, except that I looked up John 16:33 incorrectly thinking it was John 16:22. Here’s 16:22:
“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
If that is not my daughter speaking to me through God, through a college football player…. I don’t know WHAT IS!!! I just cried and cried, and smiled and was comforted.
I am getting better every day. There is relief in her death, because she is free from pain and she is absolutely SAFE. But it is simply UNNATURAL to be seperated from my baby. I described it to a friend recently that living without her is like being forced to live underwater without any gills. I have to come up for air all the time and it is exhausting and HARD. But, I can do it! Just like dolphins can do it by design- so can I. (PS- GO FINS!!!)
So anyway, college football has changed my life.
And by the way- I looked up John 16:33 and I already had highlighted it in my bible on 6/18/09. Tebow and I are literally on the same page.
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Love,
Sylvie
December 9th, 2009 at 10:00 am
What a sweet letter and touching story.
God always knows just what we need to hear and I continue to be amazed at how He lets us know.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Karen- thank you so much for sharing Sylvie and Sydney’s story. It warms my heart to see Sydney touch more and more people – thanks to you, even more have learned her story and know how special she was…. and still is. I’m so glad I found your website and got you and Sylvie in touch – something as easy as a google search – but took your kindness to keep it going – thank you!!!
Gail Devine
December 18th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Gail Devine, you are *divine*! I so appreciate that you took the time to reach out to me for the sake of your friend. I wanted to be a blessing to Sylvie. She has been a blessing to me.