So many people have asked how Conner is doing, so I wanted to show you some pictures of him "in his element." In a nutshell, he is NOT paralyzed, praise God! Conner is still working on regaining the muscle strength in his right arm. He still goes to physical and occupational therapy two times a week. If you watched him play at recess, you would not know that he has relearned to walk, run, write, and eat this year. Really, if you would look at him, you would see a healthy, vibrant, athletic, and SPUNKY little red headed boy.
He started baseball a few weeks ago. He even scored a pitching lesson from his Uncle Jimmy last week, who told him that he has the "look" in his eye that makes athletes successful. Uncle Jimmy said "you can't teach that." So, all in all, as Conner would put it, "He's livin' a dream."
When he went to the Naturals baseball game last week, he made himself (unbeknownst to me) a shirt that said "Jones" with his Uncles number on the back. As always, he thinks he needs to go to events in character.
It's taking everything out of me to not tell Conners baseball coach that Conner was paralyzed 7 months ago, and has worked so hard to get where he is. BUT, I want Conner to be successful on his own, not because of sympathy. This little guy is willing to work for it. If you look closely, Conner is holding up his right thumb in the picture above while he is playing catcher at baseball practice. I remember when he started to get the use of his arm back, it was that little thumb that he could move first. We still covet your prayers. We are still praying for complete healing for him, and are so thankful for how far God has brought him this year. There are a few other symptoms that we are still praying for, possibly some things caused by the high doses of steroids he had to take. We are still trusting God.
Conner is going to be baptized this Sunday on Easter at the First Baptist Church in Denison, Texas where my brother pastors. Conner accepted Christ as his savior about a year ago. He keeps asking me when we are going to "let" him get baptized. After all that God has brought Conner through this year, his faith in God is not just something he has read about in the Bible. It has become real to him.
It was today on Good Friday that our Lord was crucified. I have met so many people this year who are struggling. I always hear that everyone is either in a storm, going through a storm, or just coming out of one. My hope is that if you are in a storm, you will seek Jesus, and listen to Him when He says in the midst of the storm, "Be still, it is I."
The Good News is that the grave could not hold Christ. Three days later, He rose from the grave to give us all Hope, a hope that we have learned more about this year than I could have ever imagined.
Conner asked me today lots of questions like, "Mommy, do people HAVE to get baptized?" I explained that Jesus was baptized, so we are following His example when we follow Him. I explained to him that baptism was to symbolize Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. He wanted to know how long Uncle Mark was going to have to hold him under the water. (Don't get any ideas Mark.)
Matthew 28:18-20
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
I'm thanking God this Easter that He has not only been with us through this year of recovery, but that He sent his son over 2000 years ago to die on the cross so that we could have hope and healing. Have a blessed Easter!
