I am Free!

Today I attended one of the most powerful and beautiful funeral services ever.  It was for my twenty two year old cousin, Cody.  His Mom, Donna, and my Dad are cousins.  He had cerebral palsy and the picture below is one that was taken when he was younger with his service dog.  For all of his life he was bound to a wheelchair and totally dependent upon others for his care.  He was gorgeous and had tons of personality. 

 

I will never forget when Cody was born during my Junior year of high school.  His birth was my first experience with someone having special needs in the family.  Little did I know that I too would be a special needs Momma one day. 

 

Today during the funeral service my heart could hardly contain my emotions.  My heart breaks for his Momma, Father, sister and the awesome supportive family he had around him.  They will miss him so much.  No parent should ever have to bury their child. 

 

 Then my heart was so full of love for our Lord who reminds us in John 9:1-3 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him Rabbi who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?  Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 

 

As a special needs Momma, this scripture grips my heart and blesses me because Cody and my David are here simply for God's glory.  They are not flukes, they are not "mess ups" they are made perfectly and beautifully by our Creator to bring Glory to the one who made them.  My cup runneth over thinking that God uses these special children to display His work. 

 

It was so obvious that Cody had touched many, many people.  His own pastor shared how Cody how taught him so much.  The pastor also spoke how God used the example of the family's devoted caretaking of Cody as an example of the selfless love of Christ.  Donna faithfully took Cody to church every Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night despite the hard work it took to get him there.  She is an inspiration to us all that church needs to be a priority.  If Donna, Cody, and his faithful service dog, Buck could get to church every time the church doors open we all certainly can. 

The music for the service was beautiful.  All of the songs were gorgeous but the service  closed with this song I am Free.  At the service it was a more mellow, acoustic version of this song, but I had to share for the lyrics.  What a beautiful and wonderful thought that because of Jesus, someone that was bound to a wheelchair for 22 years is now free!  For those of us in Christ we have the hope that we will all be free from the ailments and burdens of this life in Heaven with Jesus.  There was not a dry eye in the church when the service was closed with this gorgeous song. 

 

Through you the blind will see

Through you the mute will sing

Through you the dead will rise

Through you all hearts will praise

Through you the darkness flees

Through you my heart screams

I AM FREE!

Yes, I am free

 

I am Free to Run

I am free to Dance

I am free to live for You

I am Free!!!



 

Thank you God for using Cody to teach us all so many life lessons and using that gorgeous, spunky boy as a way to reveal your Glory!  Run Free Cody!