My Ebeneezer Stone

To my oldest sister Hillarie,
Thank you for the amazing memory book you made me. I can't imagine the amount of time, energy, thought, love and kindness that went into such a precious gift!

Your commitment and dedication to pray for Tessa and for us has been truly overwhelming this last year. You embody so many great and wonderful things. It is amazing to witness everything the Lord has for you in this life.

Thank you for establishing such a memorial in remembrance of what God has done for us in this last year.
Thank you for loving and praying for us the way that you do!

A couple of weeks ago I received a package in the mail from my sister. She told me she had been working on something for me and was excited to finally send it to me. I received the package on the exact one year anniversary of Tessa's hospitalization and diagnosis. Inside was a memory book, full of a magnificent creation of a variety of blog posts that I have written over the last year.

The first page was titled "Ebeneezer", which means "stone of help" and clearly explained Hillarie's purpose behind the special creation of this book:

1 Samuel 7: 10-12
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

The place was important, because around 20 years before, the nation had suffered a terrible defeat and had surrendered the Ark of the Covenant at the same place (1 Samuel 4:1). Now, the place could be remembered for something great, instead of something terrible.

Samuel knew the nation needed to remember this amazing victory, which came to a humble and repentant Israel. This battle was by the Lord, not by Israel, so he named the stone Ebeneezer, which means "stone of help".

Samuel knew the Lord had done a great work, yet he knew there was much more to be accomplished. So, he knew it was not finished, yet he could say, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us'. God helps us thus far at a time, and His past work is a pledge of future help.

Some of what Hillarie wrote:
"I pray that this book is a reminder, an Ebeneezer stone, that will help you to remember all the ways that "thus far the Lord has helped" you. I love you and pray for God's continued victory and glory through your family's journey. Love you, Hillarie"

And some of what Lindsay wrote:
"A year has passed since the devastating news of Tessa's diagnosis. I continue to watch your lives and in my lack of understanding I pray for you. I pray to the One who understands your every need and every emotion and ask for His presence in your life to pervade the essence of who you are! Love you, Lindsay"

There is something so incredibly healing about sitting down and looking through this book page by page. Having a tangible creation like this has been amazing. I have been able to have emotions that have been tucked away for awhile now. I have been able to be sad that my dreams have changed, but also celebrate how far we have come. It is such a gift to remember a time and place for something great, instead of something terrible. This memory book will allow me to do just that in those overwhelming moments on this journey. Thank you for my Ebeneezer stone. Thank you for such an amazing reminder of what the Lord has done in our lives over this last year. Thank you for giving me a tangible reminder of His presence in our lives.

Thank you to my sisters, for rallying around me and loving me in such special ways!
~Whitney