To God be the glory.

Four and a half years ago, a trembling 12 month old baby girl was placed in my arms. From the very first moment I held her, she clung to me-for dear life.

That sweet baby girl was terrified of almost everything and everyone. She trusted no one. She had night terrors. The only thing she knew was I was the best thing that had happened to her, and she was vigilant to never let me out of her sight. Ever.

I remember when she was 16 months old and just barely toddling around, we went for a walk to crunch in the fall leaves. She was warbling a song just as a gust of wind scattered the leaves and they went tumbling down the sidewalk.

Absolutely terrified she ran to me shrieking and crying and literally clawing me to climb up and bury her head in my neck. She screamed, "INSIDE, INSIDE" and our happy walk abruptly ended.

That memory devastated me.... What had she experienced in just twelve short months to cause her to be terrified of even the wind blowing?

As the years have passed,that sweet baby girl has conquered her fears: Of leaves. Of the wind. Of men shopping in the grocery store and passing us with their cart. She eventually could sit in the shopping cart and know that I wouldn't let anyone take her from me. She learned that she could actually enjoy some of the things she used to fear greatly.

As her list of fears dwindled, we have seen her confidence grow. It became okay to look people in the eye. To smile in the presence of strangers. To play with friends. To not be in the same room as mommy all the time. To giggle without a care in the world just like any other 5 year old. To sleep through the night terror-free. To REALLY believe it when mommy tells her she will never, ever leave her and not come back.

And those painful memories of my helplessly fearful baby girl make THIS so much sweeter:

My brave girl stood before a class of her peers,and all of their parents. She presented a report and project that she designed and prepared all by herself on LEAVES.

She was relaxed. She used expression in her voice. She looked up at the crowd while she talked. She smiled.

And her dad and I sat in the back and tears rolled freely down our cheeks.

And all I can say is,

To GOD be the glory for the things HE has done.

"He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3