Limping Along in the Lord’s Army
My buddy Thom Lemmons wrote a moving piece called “Limping Along in the Lord’s Army” many years ago as a tribute to my daughter, Megan. It’s posted here.
Here’s just a sample:
Megan was a flesh-and-blood display of the topsy-turvy economy of the kingdom of heaven. She was one of the least of us, yet she occupied the apex of our care, absorbing all the loving service we could offer, and able to absorb still more. Without any “thank you,” without any false reticence, without even seeming to notice, she took all that we could give her, and still we were left with the sense that it was not enough. And yet, to anyone who held her down for a breathing treatment, or marched with her through the church parking lot, singing “I’m in the Lord’s Ar-my, Yes, Sir!”, or changed her soiled undergarments, or tried in vain to rescue some semi-edible artifact from her unbelievably quick hands, or held her as she gasped for breath–to anyone who ever poured a minute’s worth of love down the bottomless pit that was Megan, the blessing which followed beggared any other reward. Megan taught us all the difference in value between receiving and giving. We only wished we could have done more: there was no question of doing less. And all the while, we were the ones being made over by her innocent carelessness and her shattering need into a closer imitation of the one who poured out his life as a ransom for many.
One more sample from this gospeled tribute:
It’s a strange regiment, this “Lord’s Ar-my” of which she loved to sing. Its recruits, rank upon rank, are, every one of them, hurt and defective in some way. It’s an army of the walking wounded, commanded by a general with punctured hands and feet and a gash in his side; a general who leads his host not to attack, but to surrender. And with this, we may be coming close to the center of Megan’s meaning for us: her infirmity, her heroic, dogged struggle and her eventual defeat reminded us, her comrades-in-arms, of our own concealed injuries.
Oh, Mike….
Heartbreaking and moving. I wish I had known Megan, but she continues to touch even those of us who never met her.
I can see your Megan in my memories as I read this (I only knew her when she was little) — amazing how her simplicity teaches so much.
I have thought often about unconditional love — thinking that I was giving unconditional love to my Megan (and Morgan, too) — giving and giving with not much return. However, I am learning that my girls are giving ME unconditional love — they love, forgive, smile, and keep on loving…no matter what difficulty they are going through. It really is a humbling experience.
Kamy – I’ve been privileged to see you and Kevin give and receive love with the girls — all three of them. It’s not the lives we expected. But it is a God-blessed one, nevertheless. “We have this treasure in jars of clay.”
Thank you for posting this. I remember Megan and your family while I was at Harding, and even before when visiting my sister, Julie, while she was at Harding. I remember her sweet face and how your family ministered to her. This means so much as now I have twins with Cerebral Palsy and one of the twins uses a wheelchair and requires almost all of my energy, but has a heart of gold and reminds us daily how Great our God is. Thank you for posting this. Thank you for your example..May God continue to bless your family. I know Megan is marching in the Lord’s army with more energy than ever!
I, too, remember Megan as a young child when you lived in Searcy. She taught us all (not as much as her father, but plenty) about complete trust, innocent faith, and the devotion necessary for caring for those who cannot care for themselves. And I know that God’s army in heaven is blessed with the presence of this angel.
This isn’t the most appropriate place for this comment, but your Twitters don’t have a place for responses. Forgive, then, the unholy placement:
RE: the Tweet, your insistence on calling David Brooks a “conservative” columnist doesn’t make him one. He IS a columnist, however, so you’re half right!
For a true conservative’s take on the Cheney/Obama pugilisms, check out Krauthammer instead. Brooks is a squishy moderate, like Noonan.
qb
qb, twitters are responded to conversationally using the formulation of @username. So, to reply to his tweet, type @RunMichael. Alternately, should you visit his twitter page, to the right of the tweet itself, you’ll see a faint icon of a star (with which to favorite the tweet) and a “return”-style arrow that will allow you to replay to it (it will insert the proper syntax for you, assuming you’re logged in).
Also, if Peggy Noonan is “a squishy moderate,” I’ll eat my hat. Yours, too, without so much as ketchup to mediate the taste. Blech.
Hey Mike, We have such vivid precious memories of Megan in the “Lord’s army.” We are thankful for our time together in Searcy and look forward to being with you and Diane soon. Sara talked me into blogging so I join you in this new world. Love and peace from all of us. Charlotte, children and nine grandchildren.
Beautiful…thanks for sharing. It sounds like many people learned many things from your Megan. What a precious gift she was to all of you.
I am eternally blessed by my time with Megan in Searcy and those bible hours where she loved to wear my mickey mouse watch. Whenever I see a Disney watch, I smile a smile for Megan.
Thanks so much, Jayme. She was a lover of Mickey . . . and Lamb Chops . . . and Mr. Rogers . . . .
Terry, welcome to the blogging world. Much love to you and Charlotte.