Crossing Over

God puts people in your path that have such a profound impact on your life that you can only trust in His grace about what is happening around you. A colleague of mine often shared beautiful antics about what his two children were doing and what plans he had for their future. One of those children was Olivia, a beautiful, blonde, blue-eyed four year -old that had such energy that her dad had difficulty keeping up with her pranksters with her older brother.

One morning, Dean, Olivia's dad, had a change in his appearance when he came to work, and entered my office early one morning to chat which was somewhat unusual. Over the week-end, his Olivia had experienced a severe headache and ataxia (uncoordinated walking.) In a short period of time, those beautiful blue eyes had become crossed and she wasn't able to focus her vision clearly.

Quickly a diagnosis confirmed that she had a neuroblastoma in her brain stem - a very rapid growing brain malignancy. The tumor was inoperable. In my spirit, I cried out and asked God, "Why are You allowing this to happen?" Dean was raising his children in God's shadow and he had been serving the Lord for many years. It wasn't fair.

I was reminded of the Bible prophet Job, who had served God in all ways, but Satan was allowed to take everything from him, family, friends, health, possessions, and still he continued to serve God. At the end of Job's trials, he came to the realization that God is all-powerful and all knowing. Was God allowing the evil one to torment this family just as He had allowed persecutions to come upon Job?

Turning to doctors who had experience with this disease, it was soon suggested to Olivia's family that chemotherapy may be the only option that could extend her life. All of Dean's faith was put in this option and he knew that God would use this avenue to cure his Olivia, but God had bigger plans. Family and friends prayed daily for her healing, but healing came through a different method. God always heals the faithful, but many times it isn't the way we expect it to come.

Throughout the process of their long trips for the treatments and shorter spans between hospitalizations, Olivia's little body began to change. She experienced weakness, shortness of breath causing her to be oxygen-dependent due to the increased edema from the disease, and stroke-like symptoms on her right side. Her question of "“Daddy why won't this dumb old arm work anymore" was difficult for a child to comprehend what was happening to her small body. Soon she was unable to walk and had to be carried. God where are you now when this family needs you? In your word it says, " and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5 KJV) Why hasn’t your healing come?

Soon Olivia was given only a few months to live by her physician. That Christmas was to be her last with her earthly family. Next Christmas she would be sharing Christ's birthday in His presence. Beautiful Olivia died during the winter when all things appear drab and dreary. She was just five years-old; a bright light gone from our presence. God healed her at her crossing over. We don’t always understand why things such as death have to happen to the innocent and the pure, but I am reminded in God's Word that He "... sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”(Matt. 5:45 KJV)

Dean became more withdrawn, but eventually began to share things as God revealed them to him in his dreams and memories. . Reflecting back over the year prior to Olivia's illness, Dean remembered that he had often heard Olivia talking in her bedroom to someone whom he had assumed was an imaginary playmate. She called the playmate, Jesus. On a few occasions, he would hear her laughing and dancing around and when asked what she was doing, she replied with a smile, "“I am dancing with my angel, Daddy." God had revealed to a child of what He had in store for her. God reveals Himself to children because they are still pure in heart and are open for the supernatural while as adults, we become cynical and closed-hearted Jesus said, "“Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt: 19:14 KJV)

This passing brought more questions - Is God real---is Heaven real, will we see Olivia again? Olivia touched our lives for a brief moment, but long enough to affirm that Jesus is real and has a real place waiting for us to be reunited with our faithful loved ones who have passed on. The affirmation of my faith was again confirmed by a five year-old child's acceptance of life after death, and how awesome it must have been for her to cross over with her playful angel carrying her to her heavenly home.