To My Church Family,

As I sit and ponder Holy Week, I reflect on what I am thankful for.  The first is for God, our Creator, and for his Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior.  As a parent, grandparent, and great-grandparent (and as of Tuesday, a new great-grandson makes 9 boys and 5 girls), I can only imagine the pain He felt as his Son hung on that cross that day for us, to save our souls from sin.  Jesus knew what his purpose was, what he had to do for us, so that we may be free from sin.  I pray that we all know what we have to do because of His sacrifice.

I would like to reflect on my own family for a moment.  I was blessed with 3 children.  My husband, John, and I wanted a big family (his grandmother had 15 children).  After 3 children in 6 years, we longed for more children, but after a while we knew 3 was all.  But God has blessed us so far with 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.  Some of my “littles,” as I call them, are special needs children.  They are always special to me.

I’d like to talk about the blessings of one of my littles, Lucy.  You have all prayed for her since her birth.  Lucy was born with a genetic condition known as DYRK1A syndrome.  She is the only one known to be born with this in PA.  This condition caused her to be born prematurely.  We don’t know what is in store for her, but we know she is a child of God and is a special gift, as all children are.  The doctors wanted to take Lucy because she wasn’t thriving and told Alex and Mike that she wouldn’t grow anymore in the womb.  But Lucy hung on, and upon her birth, she weighed 4 lbs and looked like a doll.   Lucy, as a true gift from God, has taught us that all special needs children like her have happiness and joy every day of life.  Doctors and humanity have labeled these children as special needs, and they sometimes suggest that we abort them.  To me, they are special gifts from God that are here to teach us all about life and how to appreciate all of God’s children.  I thank God every day for this gift, and I look at all children as His gifts to us.  So, as we move through this Holy Week, let us all celebrate God’s Son’s sacrifice for us.  Let’s sing out in praise on Easter.  He has risen!  HALLELUJAH!

Sandy Kissinger