SSL - Stay Strong Lydia!  When those words were coined, who knew the truth they would hold throughout the journey?  From their importance on May 17 - stay strong and stay with us; to having her breathing tube removed on June 2, and the need for Lydia to stay strong and force her lungs to breathe, to recovery from g tube surgery on June 28, to these present days at Holland Bloorview and all of the rehab therapy Lydia must do, SSL is a great encouragement.  She is staying strong.  She is strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  (Eph 6:10)
Today, like many other days, she had to work very hard in therapy.  She was in a stander for 15 minutes.  The stander is wrapped around her, holding her upright, and firmly placing her feet in a pannel.  The stander is necessary to help Lydia be able to stand upright, but it is immensely painful, as it stretches her heel cords.  Lydia cried and fought her way through this agony.  The therapists were asked if Lydia could be comforted while she did this, and yes, she could be reassured and encouraged.  So she was told how brave she was, how very painful, but necessary this was,  how it was helping to lengthen her heel cords, and that she needed to stay strong.  Fifteen minutes is a long time to endure, but she did it.  Afterwards, she did some therapy on the mats.  Her attitude changed.  She became playful and smiled a lot.  It was as if she endured the pain, and then embraced the joy.
We are so thankful to God, that He continues to give Lydia joy.  Her smiles and emotional responsiveness are gifts to us.
Our God is a God of joy.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  (Phil 4:4,5)  He is near.  He is with Lydia, in her pain and in her joy, and He is with us.  He is near.  Thank you, Lord.