Anyone that knows me at all cannot help but note that at the end of every post is this hashtag #MyGodisYahweh. Today I will share the motivation behind that ever-present reminder of who my God is and how dear He is to me.
This date, February 26, 7 years ago, my precious granddaughter Eliyah Kate Hymel went to sleep in her daddy’s arms on the earth and woke up in the arms of Jesus….just like that! He laid her down, went to work and when her mom went to check on her, she was already gone from the earthly body she inhabited for 7 months and 8 days.
Eliyah means “My God is Yahweh” and every time we remember her, or say her name, we also remember and declare who our God is. There are many things I can say about this day even 7 years later. I remember every sound, every sight, every thought, every prayer, every smell, every tear. I remember the weather and when I feel it even now, it brings me right back to that day. But what I remember the most is the nearness of God, the feel of His breath on me, His heart weeping with me and His tears flowing down my cheeks. I understood that as I wept and grieved, so did He. In fact that entire season brought me into the fellowship of His suffering and a deeper understanding of His heart as He grieved the death of His own dear Son.
Eliyah Kate never spoke a word, smiled 90% of the time, rarely fussed or cried for anything. The gentlest happiest baby, sheer perfection all the time. But like Jesus it seems she accomplished more in death that she did in her short little life. For here, we knew her, we loved her dearly; she influenced us with her abundant joy. But in death, she moved the hearts of many more people some of whom never met her. I still hear testimonies today of those who came to know her story, those who attended the funeral in which her own daddy preached. Those whose lives were changed watching us walk in the valley of tears yet continue to praise our God Yahweh.
#MyGodisYahweh is a way to honor my God and remember my baby girl at the same time. Their hearts are intertwined together and beating as one today which is the hope of all of us. She just accomplished it much sooner than we. #MyGodisYahweh