Abiding and Adoring: Mito Awareness, Samuel's story and why the dragonfly helps us think of heaven.

Mito Awareness, Samuel's story and why the dragonfly helps us think of heaven.

Over the past 12 years our community has blessed us and many others by spreading awareness and raising money for Samuel's research fund. The money for his fund goes to research for mitochondrial disease. There is no cure. I want to share our story and the Lord's Hand in it all and the people who make this week each year so very special. I pray this helps to spreads mitochondrial awareness so that people can understand that many illness (Many conditions can lead to secondary mitochondrial dysfunction, including: Alzheimer's disease, muscular dystrophy, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and even cancer) and for the heavenly perspective we can share!

Since Samuel went to heaven we can share the joy we have because of Christ and His gift of salvation. We have great Hope that through Christ alone we will see our loved ones again. I started looking at the sky and seeing it differently after Samuel left us for heaven. What awesome beauty and spectacular glory the Lord shares with us and it helps me to think how amazing heaven will be. Just a glimpse!

I want to share a little about Samuel and the significance of the dragonfly to us. Samuel was born healthy and perfect. He was fussy but we loved him and enjoyed every minute we had with him. As he grew he was not meeting milestones and over time found out he had a mitochondrial disorder. There is no cure. He was never able to walk or talk, but he communicated volumes with his sweet spirit, precious ways and wisdom beyond his years. He did have an eye gaze computer and several ways to communicate and he was opinionated and knew how to communicate, just not verbally. Thank you to do many wonderful therapists over the years who taught us and helped us help him.

He taught us so much about having joy in all circumstance, trusting the Lord and finding the joy in each gift, small or large. He loved the Lord and the peace he had was unexplainable.

It was truly our joy and honor to be his parents and take care of him for almost 8 years.

Here is a short video that explains what happened with Samuel and mito. It is still hard to watch but has been a Powerful tool in explaining our story in a simple way. The mitochondrial foundation even used it to help educate others over the years. Even if you aren't on Facebook, this is public. *link below his picture

Watch the video here... Samuel's story and mito

Link to Samuel's research fund

here

I also have wanted to share for years about the significance of the dragonfly. To me it's a picture of heaven.

📖The dragonfly is at first a water nymph that lives under the surface of the water. One day one of the water bugs goes up and disappears. The others decide that the next one that goes up needs to come back and tell everyone where they went. Soon the next water bug felt the urge to go to the surface and took a nap on a lily pad. When the bug awoke he had glorious wings and a new body! He could fly and see the amazing world! Then he remembered his friends below the surface and wanted to tell them all about it, but he could not go back under the water.

The the significance of this story to me, is that we are living like the water bugs under the surface surviving each day on earth. When someone we love dies and they are Christians that go to heaven which symbolizes the dragonfly in his Heavenly Body as we will be enjoying all the beauty of Heaven. The people in heaven cannot come back and tell us about it so we must wait until we are called.

✝️This gives me great hope and is a sweet reminder of the joy awaiting!

I also think often of this verse and have it written permanently on my foot with Samuel's name and a dragonfly:

Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

The Glory that is to be revealed to us in heaven! I can't wait. But until then we must press on for God's glory. And Samuel's life and death are a precious reminder to serve the Lord with gladness, step heavenly and help others.

Thank you for reading our story. I hope you know a little more about why we wear green for mito week, LOVE to talk about our boy and keep raising awareness so there can be a cure.