For Rachel Amariah

I have never met you in person, and do not know if I ever will here on earth anyway.
I know your parents and siblings, an uncle and even your grandparents.
I lived under your family for just a few months, I learned of your coming while I was there.
I heard the news that God has something else in mind for you shortly after your parents learned the news.
I prayed for you, your little body, little heart, little family.
After you were born I learned that you were a little fighter, you did not give up!
God has a special plan and purpose for you while you are here with us.

I may have never met you, but you have already changed the hearts of many people, including mine.
Your parents are stronger, because of the fight for life you put forth.
God planned is this way.

You are a beautiful baby.
You are not the weight that people would expect for your age.
Tiny and helpless and yet God is using you to bring glory to Him.
This glory that you bring, is what we are all created for.
For 8 months you have blessed everyone around you with your gorgeous smiles and hardy laughs for such a tiny babe.
Even though I am hundreds of miles away, you have captured my heart.

As I have been following your life through the blog your mom has up for you, I have been moved on numerous occasions.
There is such a faith and great sacrifice that your parents have giving over to our Lord.
Do you know how much He loves you? He loves you even more than your parents, at this point it is hard to even imagine this, because your parents have shown love that is unconditional.
They knew that you were not to live a normal life, and yet they chose life, because they knew that God had a plan, a purpose for you little one.

I was listening to a very powerful song the other day. I thought of you immediately just because of the words. There is so much meaning behind them when I think of you.

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call

Rachel you have a maker he is Jesus Christ, he most certainly formed your heart. He formed it to be one in a million, or rather no cases known with your heart condition. You appear fragile and rightly so. However, how has one so small, so fragile lived for this long? Only by God! He knew at the creation of the world that Rachel Amariah Funk would be special! Rachel your life is most definately in His hands and we have all seen that time and time again. Not only do you have an early father, who is a godly man, but you have a Heavenly Father who knows you inside and out, he knows when it will be time for you to go and leave this earthly world behind. You are his child and he will never leave you, during your heart spells God is encompassing your entire family as you fight to breathe. He knows your name as he chose it long before you were even thought of by your parents. He knows those little thoughts you have and all the tears that you shed. I our minds we don't think that you can call unto the Father, but your mother and father most definately do when they see you struggling or learn of more news about how your little humanly complicated body works. Gods knows it all and knows all of you. Rachel, may you ever more continue to touch the heart of many around the globe as they hear and learn more and more about you. I hope that before I head to heaven that I might have the chance to meet you, if not then I will rejoice for you are with our Lord and when I see you there we shall rejoice for the hearts that you changed just through being where God wants you.