golden feet

"Let the weak say I am strong." Joel 3:10

Every morning, at 6:00 am, I hear the patter of sweet little feet running down the hallway towards our room. As Kaikai enters our bedroom, he exerts one last burst of energy before he flings his little body on top of David's sleeping form. My amazing husband then gets up with our sweet son and they head downstairs to snuggle and pray.

A couple of weeks ago, David and Kaikai had just settled in on the couch for their time with the Lord when David realized that he had forgotten his glasses upstairs. He went up to get them, and upon his return, noticed that Kaikai was staring down at his own feet. David sat down on the other couch and after a few minutes, Kaikai joined him and characteristically melted his little body into David's lap. "My feet were shiny, Dad."

David didn't know what to make of that, but assumed that Kaikai was making a reference to the infection that had plagued his feet for the past three months. He pulled Kaikai a little closer (if that's even possible), and went back to reading his Bible.

Kaikai waited patiently for a time, but then tried again, "My feet were shiny, Dad."

David looked into Kaikai's eyes and recognized an intensity there that caused him to take more notice this time. "What do you mean, shiny?"

"Well, they were gold and yellow...and uh, shiny," Kaikai struggled to explain.

Because he still wasn't sure that he had understood, David asked Kaikai to draw a picture of what he had seen. Kaikai seemed relieved to have an option in which he wouldn't have to try to explain in English. He picked up the pencil and paper and drew what would translate, in full-size, to an 18 inch cloud around his feet. "It was shiny, Dad. It was gold and yellow."

And then it hit David. God had given Kaikai a vision; a vision of a golden cloud, encompassing his precious little feet.

Now, you might be tempted to think that God's main intent for this vision was to provide healing for our beautiful son. I am most certainly not opposed to this interpretation of Kaikai's vision, but I believe that God was saying something even greater. God was highlighting Kaikai's weakness, and wanted to show that our son's weakness, indeed all of our weaknesses, are really our strength.

For all of his life Kaikai has depended upon others for many of his basic needs. This could have caused frustration or anger to grow up in Kaikai's heart. But, instead, my sweet son has embraced his weakness and has allowed God to use it to grow a great love for people in his heart. What Kaikai lacks in bodily strength is by far made up for in strength of character. His cheerfulness in the face of adversity is a source of inspiration to me every day. Kaikai is a mighty young warrior in his ability to love, trust and forgive.

 

 

Andrew Murray expressed this understanding of weakness well when he said, "The Christian thinks his weaknesses are his greatest hindrance in the life and service of God; God tells us that it is the secret of strength and success. It is our weakness, heartily accepted and continually realized, that gives us our claim and access to the strength of him who has said, 'My strength is made perfect in weakness.'"

Though it seems contrary to our human way of thinking, Kaikai's weak little feet have truly made him strong. Ever since Kaikai had his vision, I like to find moments when I can whisper into his ear, "You have golden feet. You have golden feet, my son!"

Kaikai smiles because he knows that it's true. His feet are a treasure; one that God has used to give him all the strength that he will ever need.