(CNN)

– Every morning, Christy Farley rises from bed and feels relieved.

“Not a day or minute goes by where I don’t think about how lucky I am just to be here,” said Farley of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. “I thank God every day when I wake up that I woke up.”

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/21/pediatric.heart.transplant/index.html

2009 has been a memorable year!  Significant progress has been made in the continued development of the Erika Kate Foundation.  Read more

Ani and Jeremy Karg are the parents of four daughters, Madi – 9, Selah – 6, Veiyah – 1, and Aderah, Veiyah’s twin, who passed away on Sept 10, 2008 before she was born.  Veiyah and Aderah were born on Sept 25 2008, Veiyah with serious heart complications.  Veiyah is fighting her battle daily, and from the sound of her at home in the background during the interview for this story, she is up for the fight.  Over the past year, Veiyah has had several emergencies, and right here, right now, she is doing well.

Veiyah at age 3 weeks, at her first BT shunt surgery

As Ani and Jeremy went through these emergencies, and before Veiyah had her first shunt implanted in her heart, the chief surgeon told them that they needed to be in the present moment each day with their sweet Veiyah, don’t hold her back, let her live her life in her own way, at her own pace.  He told them to live in the moment.

Ani and Jeremy have learned the most important thing for them as a family is to “Be Right Here, Right Now.”  They don’t spend time contemplating the future – there is not time with their busy household of three children, one who needs constant care.  And, they don’t want to think about what the future holds because they know that their lives can change, literally, in a heartbeat.  What they do focus on is making sure Veiyah has all the opportunities for improving through surgery and medication.  They trust in God, and they trust their doctors to find the best possible answers.  They focus on their family in each moment, drawing close together, supported by extended family, friends, Jeremy’s work colleagues, their church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the Erika Kate Foundation. Read more

In my neighborhood Bible Study, there are four of us who gather each week to study God’s word and reflect on His work in our lives. This past month, we watched a DVD segment from Rick Warren about maintaining our hearts - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I thought it had some simple insights to remind us all about caring for our hearts.

Three habits that refresh a loving heart physically - getting plenty of rest (Psalm 127:2), eating a balanced diet (Psalm 119:73) and getting regular exercise (1 Corinthians 6:20). It is important to set aside one day each week to rest, relax and refresh spiritually; for many of us, this comes on Sunday.

Three habits that recharge us emotionally are - solitude (Mark 6:31), recreation (Luke 7:34) and laughter (Proverbs 17:22). It is valuable to make time to be by ourselves. I think that is one reason I like running so much. It also replenishes me emotionally and spiritually while challenging me physically.

Lastly, there are three habits that renew us spiritually - daily quiet time, small group, and worship. These habits are essential for our spiritual growth to occur and for our souls to be cared for. Rick Warren made a comment that a Christian without a group is like an orphan. We need each other to hold one another accountable, to inspire each other, and encourage one another.

“The quality of your relationship to God determines the quality of every other relationship you have.” - Rick Warren

May you make efforts every day to maintain a healthy heart physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Maintaining a Healthy Heart

- from Rick Warren’s 40 Days of Love series

In my home, I try to surround myself with little reminders that God is present with me in every moment of my day.  A flip calendar by Joyce Meyer is by my kitchen sink.  This message caught my attention today, “Struggle Develops Strength”.  She writes:

“Before the caterpillar enters the cocoon, it has to crawl slowly along the ground.  But then it spins a cocoon and crawls into it for a while.  When it emerges from that cocoon, it has been totally changed.  It has become a butterfly, one of the freest of God’s creatures.  It can soar through the air on beautiful wings.  But to emerge from that cocoon is a struggle, one that is necessary for the butterfly’s full transformation and development.

I once read about a man who saw a butterfly struggling to emerge from a cocoon.  Moved by misplaced compassion, the man decided to help the poor creature, so he broke open the cocoon and pulled the developing butterfly out.  In just a matter of minutes the weakened creature curled up and died.
If we didn’t struggle through some things, we would never develop the strength and stamina we need to survive in this world.”

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, Who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10

May you be encouraged that our struggles are not in vain, but that they will develop our strength.