i snuck away from work today, just to visit his session and see how things were going.

this face of his has been  making me smile so much lately, and i wanted to see his progress.

the progress he had made last week, when i found him here, in the basement of the therapy office, walking with the parallel bars.

“the bars gave him the confidence he needed,” the therapist said today.

the confidence to do this.

to take steps on his own.

for the first time in eight years. 

she didn’t think he was ready, to have her let go and let him slowly work it on his own.

i had told her months ago that if he was closing to taking even one step without support, i needed to know. i wanted to be there.

we didn’t think that would be today.

but it was.

and i was there.

and his caregiver who has been with him for seven years. 

and after eight years of hard work and not giving up and not letting discouragement take over, he’s broken through something that has been holding him back.

“it gives me hope for my future,” he said, as we sat on the couch waiting for our 15 and then some guests to arrive at our spontaneous party, because everything needs a celebration.

his niece and nephew have been praying for him, and when they heard the news, even their little hearts knew.

“uncle ian,” his four year old voice said. “god answered our prayers and you’re walking on your own without falling down.”

“uncle ian,” her voice cracked, three years of happiness breaking through. “He (God) saved our message. and i’m grateful because you’re walking.” 

God did save our message, our prayers, and He hasn’t forgotten them. He was not dependent on our faith.

he fell into sleep easily tonight, his tired muscles needing their rest and his brain needing silence.

he fell asleep as a good man who hasn’t given up and who has known all along, deep in his heart, that His God is for him – always.

thank you, for praying for ian,