Erin’s life was so different from that of most 8-year-olds. While other
kids were running and playing and eating ice cream, Erin was lying in a bed
being fed through a tube—able to see only the brightest lights and hear only
the loudest sounds. Her life consisted of needles and nurses and hospital
visits as she battled ongoing illnesses and profound disabilities.
Surrounded by a remarkable family who cared for her with compassion and
filled her life with love, Erin died before reaching her ninth birthday.
What can be learned from a precious child like Erin—one who never spoke
a word or colored a picture or sang a song? A friend of Erin’s family put it
best: “We are all better for having had Erin in our lives. She taught us
compassion, unconditional love, and appreciation for the little things.”
Children such as Erin also remind us that this world is not reserved for
the perfect, the wealthy, or the athletic. Each person, no matter their
physical, mental, or emotional condition, is created in the image of God ( Gen.
1:26-29) and is of equal value and significance. Our Lord has compassion for
the weak, the broken, and all He has made ( Ps. 145:8-9), and we should mirror
that concern ( Eph 5:1-2). Is there an “Erin” in your life you can learn from?
Never underestimate the value of one life. (RBC)
