Run, Rose, Run!

"Our sweet Rosalie nearly drowned on June 6th,2012 in Owasso, OK. After 3 months in ICU & through the grace of God alone, she is now home with us, but still in the recovery process. Please join us in offering prayer for our sweet baby's full recovery."

-------------------------

This is the "About" section on the "Please Pray for Rosalie" page on Facebook. For the last 15 months, more than 54,000 people have been following Rose's story. The ups and downs... how EVERY TIME she'd dip down, GOD would bring her up. The doctors didn't expect her to live at all...much less for nearly 15 months... BUT GOD is bigger than the doctors!

No, I don't personally know Rosalie, but her story has touched my heart. Week after week, her mom, Tiffany, would post an update of how much progress she had been making. She'd post videos and pictures and made all 54k followers feel like we were part of their family!

Last fall, I crocheted a blanket for Rosalie and delivered it to her aunt to pass on...

Then for her birthday in December, my friend Cathey and I made a photo book (click on that link to view it) on Shutterfly of posts, prayers, and pics from the Facebook page- all compiled together in one book... It turned out REALLY cool!

Basically... even though I don't know the family- after all this time praying for them and pouring over their posts, I feel like I do! Anytime I posted, I referred to her as Princess Rose. She is such a beautiful little girl... just like God's little Princess!

-----------------------------------

This last week, Rosalie took a turn for the worse. They had to admit her to the local children's hospital for treatment. Thursday night's post on FB suggested that she had had a great day and was doing well, but they were awaiting more test results to see what caused it all. Then last night, this was posted:

"We would like to thank our Lord and savior for Rosalie's life. What a blessing this sweet Child of God has been in our life. Our life will be forever changed because of Rose. I know that she has brought Jesus back into many hearts that surround her, being such a light for Gods Kingdom. Tonight Rosalie went to be with Jesus. She had a mighty purpose here on earth and I know that Christ is being glorified through her. What an honor it was to be her Mommy and Daddy. She will be forever missed in our heart but we know we will see her in Heaven once again and what a glorious day that will be! Please continue to keep us all in your prayers as we walk hand in hand with Christ seeking his face during this time."

My heart sank. How could God bring her through SO MUCH over the last 15 months ... bringing more and more healing for her body... and then stop healing her and call her home? I don't understand why...why isn't He healing her this time? Why did she have to die? If she was going to die anyways, why didn't He take her home to begin with?

I know these thoughts sound awful... just being real here...

BUT in my tears and confusion, I read through some of the posts from other "Rosalie Followers."  One woman who posts often... love her posts... said,

"I want to thank you Rosalie for bringing me closer to my God. Through your life, I have learned to build my faith on the Word of God. I never knew that I could feel joy and sadness at the same time. My heart is so heavy. My will was to have you healed and whole here on earth, while God's will was to heal you and bring you home to His kingdom. I will need to lay aside my own ideas of how God was “supposed” to heal you and “accept” the healing God's way. I am not going to lie, I am saddened with this at the moment, but I will search the Word to find the reason you have not been healed. I will use God's word to rid myself of the sadness that I feel, so that I can accept your healing joyfully, in whatever way God sees fit to give it. Sometimes God chooses to heal us instantly, or He may choose to let the healing be gradual. He may choose to give a sudden manifestation of your healing but at a little later time. Or as this case may be, the case of one whose time has come to go, He may bring deliverance from pain and suffering by taking the person to her eternal rest. I believe that God did it His way. We all asked for healing for Rosalie, and healing was given to our sweet baby girl! God spoke to Rosalie and said, “Take my hand and come with me. Come to a place of complete healing and wholeness. You will sing and dance and play with the angels!” Do not cast away your trust and faith in God because he did not do it our way. Hold onto your faith in the Word of God. Stand upon the promise that God guarantees that Rosalie's healing did come!!!" -Donna S 

It was at this moment that I believe God said, "DUH" to me!!  He didn't "stop healing" her ... He gave her the ultimate healing! Just because He didn't heal her the way we all expected, doesn't mean He gave up on her...or failed the family. Princess Rose is in the presence of the the KING... she is awake after nearly 15 months of being in a coma...she is running around and playing and rejoicing in her wholeness!! 

Run, Princess Rose, Run!!

I am still saddened to hear of her passing. I am heart-broken for Tiffany and Wade...no parent should ever have to lose their child. I am at a loss for words for her brothers...they adored her. How are their hearts right now? So, while I rejoice that God healed Rosalie completely and fully last night, I will continue to pray for the family. Their loss is immeasurable, but God's peace, comfort and grace is even greater!! Thank you to Rosalie follower, Donna, for helping me to see this in a whole new light. Thank you, Father God, for bringing the healing we've all been praying for! You, Lord, have proven yourself faithful once again!