Amanda

I was looking through some stuff that my sister in law Sharon wrote. She died in September 2007. She had a daughter named Amanda that was like Miles. So many times I wish Sharon was here to help me with Miles or at least understand how I feel. Amanda lived to be 18. Sharon took great care of her. She prayed for her so many times. At one time Amanda was having 20-something seizures a day. They were terrible seizures. Sharon decided to fast and pray for a week for the seizures to go away. Christmas Eve was the last day of the fast and she said that she had an actual encounter with God. She said that she was asleep and she woke up to a light in her room that was so bright that it was almost blinding. I honestly don't remember much of the story because I thought she was a freak when she was telling me...I didn't know much about God then, But I do remember that Amanda had the worst seizure of her life that night and Sharon thought she was going to die. Then, the next morning she never had a seizure again. Today I miss Sharon terribly.

In a stack of her writings I found a poem that she wrote about her daughter Amanda. It's in her own handwriting on the back of her menu planning and shopping list. I think she captured Miles as well as Amanda. I couldn't have written it better myself. As I read it, it seemed like my own thoughts and feelings about my son.



Amanda

So soft her face, her smile sweetly pure
Not even a trace of all she’s endured
Could it be that she knows a secret, perhaps
Is it happiness within that makes her laugh?

To love her is a joy not many know
To be blessed with the gift of watching her grow
Each day more beautiful then before
Looking forward to what the future holds in store

The things she teaches are lessons of old
That a smile is worth far more than diamonds or gold.
That happiness can only be found within.

The joy of God shows on her face
And though she can’t walk, she’s won the race
For the Lord is her Shepard, He won’t let her down
Through the blood of her Savior, she’s Heaven Bound.