Miracles From Heaven

I went with my mom, mother-in-law, and 16 year old daughter tonight to see the movie, Miracles From Heaven. 

The movie is the story of the Beam family.  When middle daughter, Anna Beam, gets sick, the family believes it is just a virus.  But as Anna doesn't get better, and doctor after doctor diagnose Anna incorrectly, Anna's mother, Christy, knows it is something more.  Finally a diagnosis of a rare intestinal motility disorder is diagnosed, and the prognosis is not good. There is no cure, but the Beam family sacrifices so that Anna can receive treatment from a specialist in Boston, far from their Texas home. 

Eventually Anna goes home, with little chance of surviving long. She climbs up a tree with her sister, as she used to do often.  When a branch gives way, Anna jumps into a hole for safety and ends up falling thirty feet inside the tree, and landing in her head.  In what could only be termed a miracle, Anna not only suffered no major injuries from the fall, but her intestinal disorder was cured. 

Having two daughters with type one diabetes, watching this movie was difficult.  Seeing my daughters struggle with their health, having spent endless hours in ICU rooms and waiting rooms, dealing with doctors and nurses, this movie showed me many flashbacks of those times.  

As a Christian, I know miracles exist.  I don't know why some miracles are huge, such as Anna Beam getting healed, and why some miracles are that my daughters survived things that should have killed them, but they are still diabetic.  They still struggle with their health. 

Like the Beam family learned, everyday is a miracle.  I treasure my children, each and every one, and cherish the time we get to be together.  I have learned that tomorrow isn't promised and we must live life loving the gifts God places in our lives.  For me, that is the people I love.  My husband, my children, even the grandchild that will be here before the year is done; these are my gifts. 

Miracles From Heaven is a sweet movie.  It is a tear-jerker.  I understood the discouragement and despair that Mrs. Beam had during some of the most difficult moments when her daughter was sick.  It is not easy to keep faith during those times.  I have argued with God in several waiting rooms at those moments.  And yet, the peace of God is the only thing that got me through not knowing if my child would survive.  It was prayer that sustained me when doctors told me that they didn't know if my child would make it or as I watched my daughter fly away in a life-line helicopter, unsure if she would make the flight. 

Only parents that have been there can understand that fear.  Only parents that have turned to God can understand when there is nothing in you that can make sense of chaos and overwhelming fear, God somehow centers you and brings a little more strength and a bit of peace. 

I recommend Miracles From Heaven.  I am certain that there will be some that complain about how it isn't Biblical enough. Others will complain that it is too religious.  I don't see the point in putting God in a box and saying whether we think He could or couldn't have done this.  I know, as the Beams know, that He did.  Many others will know and believe also. That is all that matters.