get out your kleenex

Hi friends. I just wanted to share this email with you that I received yesterday from a blog reader. I asked if I could share it first. :)

Hi Patrice,

I happened upon your blog a few weeks ago and I was immediately smitten by Jonah. I went back and read from the very beginning. I’ve smiled, laughed and cried and “seen” the miracle of Jesus in action. I had never heard of EB before finding your blog and I can’t tell you how heartbroken I am to know that such a condition exists. I have used your words and Jonah’s pictures to help educate my six year old daughter on not judging a book by its cover, so to speak. She’s such a tender soul and has been so moved by Jonah’s fight that she stood up in chapel at school the other week and told everyone about Jonah. (They always go around and share a recent prayer so others may pray for them as well.) Her teacher called me at work and expressed how moved everyone was by her words. When she came home that day, she told me what she said. I thought you might enjoy it knowing what an impact Jonah is having on the world, one reader at a time.

Jonah’s Story by Megan, 6 years old.

“My Mommy reads this website about this little baby who has this skin problem. His skin is so sensitive that if you touch it too hard it gets blisters and they sometimes bleed. His name is Jonah and he’s really cute. He has blonde hair and big blue eyes and has to wear bandages all the time, even in the summer when it’s hot. Jonah has a big brother Gabe who had the same problem. He went to live with Jesus before he was born. Sometimes Jonah has blisters all over his face and people stare at him like he has germs. My Mommy and I talked about how that is mean and makes people sad. I’m sad for Jonah and I don’t understand why God made Jonah have blisters. It’s just not fair. My family prays for Jonah every night and I hope we can start to pray for him at school too. Maybe we can even donate our offering to the people that are working on a medicine for kids like Jonah. That would be great!”

So... that was the email. Are you sobbing yet? Oh, just me? I got this email first on my phone and was attempting to read it aloud to Matt in the car. But when I got to the part about Gabe, I completely lost it. And then I got it together. And then when I got to the part about people staring at him like he has germs and that making people sad, I lost it again. And then I got it together. And then when I got to the part... well, you get the idea.

I should NOT have worn mascara yesterday.

Can you believe this six year old little girl got up in front of everyone and told Jonah's story SO perfectly? It's like she summed up everything I feel and everything I want and hope for Jonah in little six year old words that were just PERFECT. It continues to amaze me how children so easily and innocently just seem to get things.

Thank you, Megan, for praying for Jonah and for telling his story. God is using you in a big way, and I hope one day you and Jonah get to meet. Maybe when he comes down for his very first Braves game? His daddy would LOVE that.