Changing voices for a minute everyone. Instead of hearing from Jacque, it’s me Tessa Ringo dropping in to talk about one of my favorite boys, Miller David. I have so many things to say about this boy, but here are just a few thoughts for tonight. Thanks for reading and looking at all the cute pics. 😉
When your friends get pregnant and you learn you will have a child to love like your own, it’s one of the most exciting milestones to celebrate with each other. And you make all the plans of what you and your kiddos will get to do together for the rest of your lives. We all imagine our lives and what we think they’ll look like or how we want them to look, and then real life happens. Well, never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined having Miller in my life and how different, yet amazing, it has been so far!
As you all know, when Miller was 15 months old, he was diagnosed with Leigh Syndrome. And our hearts sunk. Deeply. The more we all learned about this incurable disease the more afraid we felt; the more tears we all shed. The last thing anyone wants is for a child to hurt, or to not be able to do all the things they deserve to in life. This couldn’t possibly be real life for this baby boy we all love so much! Seeing your friends be told such life-altering, tragic news, and trying to live in it with them is one of the greatest pains I think I’ve felt so far in life. Doctors told Jacque and Josh that with this disease most children won’t live past the age of two. Well they were wrong. SO Wrong. You know why? Because first there is science, but then there is GOD!!!! Oh and not to mention the most determined parents in all the land. Parents determined to give their son the best life possible in which he thrives and to find a cure for their now FIVE year old son!!! The amount of time, effort, miles, phone calls, emails, road trips, & doctor appointments these three have gone through in the past five years is more than most of us will ever experience in our entire lives.
Outsiders may see Miller as a kid in a walker who is different than the rest of the kids. That’s not how we see him, and that’s not him. From the second he came into our lives, there has been no changing things for Miller or activities we do that will leave him out. That’s not how this friendship works. You see, when you teach your children we’re all different but we’re all the same, it makes life a lot more gentle and beautiful. Friendship comes in all different shapes, sizes, personalities, and backgrounds. But what is most important is how well we love each other. Friendship is about BEING there in every moment… the good, the bad, and the ugly. That is what we’re here for. Miller isn’t just any other kid to us; he’s one of my son’s best friends. He wants Miller to be around and wants to interact with him and he does just that when we get to spend time together. He doesn’t see Miller as being different. He doesn’t think twice, and they smile, and annoy each other, and play together, and it is one of my greatest joys to watch. What one of our kids does, we will find a way to make sure Miller is there doing it with us. The bond these children share is beautiful, straight from God, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Lake trips, hunting trips, birthday parties, just-because hangouts… they are the best days of our lives because we’re together. These kids have grown and grown up so quickly right before our eyes. I can’t help but be mind blown at how far Miller has come in life.
How can a 5-year-old be SO strong!?! Stronger than myself and most adults I know!? He never gives up. He is hard headed and ornery and doesn’t need to say a word because, trust me, his facial expressions say it all!!! I truly believe Miller was “assigned this mountain to show others it can be moved.”
God can use his tiniest soldiers to save people from this ugly world. Mill is a light to this world and he hasn’t a clue at how powerful his journey in life has already been to so many of us.
I guess one of the main things I want to get across is this: I hope everyone sees Miller through the eyes of Miller’s friends. I hope everyone will know the joy this kid brings to our lives. How he has taught us to think outside the box in so many different areas of our lives. How he has taught us all to trust God more than we thought possible. How he has taught us that even on our hardest, darkest days, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and God will do the rest. He has shown us how faithful God is and to never ever, ever stop praying and believing God is up to something great.
God Bless friends!!!!!
Oh and one last thing… go sign up for Mulligans for Miller, March 19th, 2022. There are angels on this earth at work, actively finding and creating a cure for the exact genetic disorder Miller has. This is HUGE but we need everyone’s help.
Love, Tessa