On July 12, 2016 our eldest daughter Ruby was diagnosed with type I diabetes. As the doctor announced this to us I could see Ruby searching my face for how to respond. In a complete act of faith I remained calm and told her everything would be okay. While I acted on instinct in this moment my faith did not come out of thin air. It came from a lifestyle I had built on trusting God.

From the beginning, we learned we could not have done anything to prevent this diagnosis and while it can be managed, Type I diabetes has no known cure. Although she has been strong and brave, I remember one time where Ruby wept and told me that diabetes has 'really hurt her life'. While we are able to cry alongside her and share in this pain, I revealed to her the one truth that has kept my life from unraveling: for more than half of my life, I have placed my trust in a God that has promised me that every perfect gift, and every hardship that visits my life has been permitted by Him. Then I told her that she gets to be our miracle.

I firmly believe that this “deficiency” is connected to her destiny. It has to be. It will be. And, by faith, she will become the fullest expression of who she is meant to be, through all of it.

NICOLE'S STORY