This morning I’m standing here in the doorway of Witt’s room at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital waiting on the coffee to finish brewing across the hall. As I stand here I realize that just down this hallway is room 6531. And in the background I hear Aaron Shust’s Ever Be playing in the background and I was brought to tears.

Faithful You have been and faithful You will be
You pledge Yourself to me and it’s why I sing

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

…

You will be praised You will be praised
With angels and saints we sing worthy are You Lord
You will be praised You will be praised
With angels and saints we sing worthy are You Lord

You see five years ago when Witt was just a baby he was in room 6531. He was two months old and the cardiologists had recently discovered that not only was his aortic valve not working properly but his mitral and pulmonary valves were leaking severely. The doctors were optimistic that they could improve the function of his heart with medications until he was a little older and then they would surgically repair them. We had been in the hospital for about five days and things seemed to be looking up. In fact, the doctors told us on rounds one morning that they would work on getting us home soon.

But then a few hours later as Alison was trying to wake Witt up for a feeding she began to scream “HE’S TURNING BLUE!”. At first I didn’t believe her but then I saw it too. Our nurse wasn’t in the room so I ran out of the room and down the hall trying to find someone to help. I grabbed the first nurse I could find and she and I ran back to room 6531. She needed help so I grabbed the oxygen and did everything I could as she instructed me. We dialed 1-1111 – the Rapid Response line and continued to try and stabilize Witt. Before we knew it the Rapid Response Team descended upon Witt’s room and took over. They ushered us out into the hallway where a wonderful nurse – Heidi Bean – calmly explained what was happening and what they were doing for Witt. She explained that they would be transporting Witt to the ICU where they could better care for Witt. In that moment I was completely overwhelmed with fear.

But as I stand here, in this doorway looking down that hallway at room 6531, thinking back to that day I remember how the fear gripped me. And I thought to myself “What if in that moment I could see my life now? What if I could see how God would bless me and bless Witt over the years that would follow?”. Of course I couldn’t see that and as I stand here I can’t see what the next five years will bring but that’s ok. Because standing here now I realize that God is always great and HE knows the plans that he has for me and for Witt and HE knows that those plans are for a future and a hope. And for that praise will ever be on my lips.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11