I Believe in a Fulfilling God

Three years ago, I met one of the most beautiful, happy 6 year olds that I had ever known. However, midway through her 6^th year Eric Gould was diagnosed with cancer, and about one year later she died. But the seeming injustice of Erica’s robbed future is not what I will always remember about her. It is her last year that will stay with me forever. Erica bravely went to chemotherapy each month, singing songs and encouraging all of the other children in the waiting room. During the early stages of the cancer, one of her favorite songs to sing was “God Will Make a Way.” One few verse from the song reads, “God will make a way,/ Where there seems to be no way/ He works in ways we cannot see/ He will make a way for me/ He will be my guide/ Hold me closely to His side/ With love and strength for each new day/ He will make a way, He will make a way.”

However, as the symptoms progressed and the doctors began to exhaust their resources, Erica began to mature in a way I have never seen before. It was as if because her life was being cut short, God was allowing her to somehow reach the wisdom and faith of an 80 year old before she passed away. Some of the things she told her mom during her last year were comments such as, “Mommy, I want to stay alive so that I can be with you, but Jesus might want to take me home and that’s OK. Heaven’s my real home you know.” In her last months she continually expressed her deep desire for everyone in the world to know her Jesus. Then during one of her last days, Eric was in the bathroom with her mother when she said, “Mommy look,” pointing past her mother. When her mom, who could see nothing, inquired as to what she was looking at. Erica replied, “Its Jesus, he’s standing right there.” A few days later Jesus brought her home. However, when Erica died, she had shown far more faith and peace than I can imagine possessing in all my years. It was through the beautiful faith of a 6 year old, that I came to understand Philippians 1:6 which states “that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Because of Erica, I believe in a fulfilling God, who will not let His children perish until he has brought their faith to completion.