Our precious Niki passed away today. Niki was a precious, beautiful baby and being the first grandchild to the family made her even more special. The whole family adored her, especially her grandad and grandma. She was such a blessing to us all.

Some months after her birth it became apparent that something might be wrong with her development, but she was still a wonderful happy little girl. She was a joy to the whole family. Since the Bible says that God is our creator and knows us even when we are in the womb, we can know that He had a plan and worked that plan in Niki’s life. It comforts me so to know He was with her, watching over her all the days of her life and that she is now with her Heavenly Father happy and whole.

I don’t know how much you were around Niki. I’m sure that if you were, she was standing watching and reading everyone and everything that was going on around her, but not a part of it. To me, that was so sad yet there didn’t seem that there was much you could do about it. I could see why she felt the way she did about the group home. There she was a part of everything, and it was my understanding that she was in better shape than most of those there. It gave her a sense of belonging.

Isn’t it wonderful that we can know that we have a God who loves us personally and is watching over us and our loved ones every minute of every day. We do not have to look a certain way or have a certain IQ. Jesus said that He just wanted us to come to Him like a little child.

Niki passed away after living a life that probably not one of us would have chosen, but in retrospect maybe we should have. She lived a simple life without having to be burdened with the petty nonsensical burdens in life. Most of the time she seemed to live in her own world, always observing but saying very little. When she was around groups of people you could see her observing, eyeing, scanning those around her but rarely commenting.

We can’t know all that she was thinking but I feel sure that she wasn’t taken with the critical, judgmental and self-centered sins that we all are plagued with. She accepted life as it was delt her. I believe that if you looked up precious in the dictionary, you would see a picture of Niki there with her bright eyes and her sweet smile.

As I’ve gotten older, I see that so much of the time I’ve leaned my ladder on the wrong wall so much of the time. I’ve not had the deep thankfulness, first, for all what Jesus my Lord did for me on the cross. Second, I’ve taken for granted the life and health that the Lord has blessed me with. Third, I’m thankful for not having things in life that most think are a blessing but only bring on heartache and thankful for parents that taught me the difference. Niki was blessed by not knowing and having to decide the difference and there is no doubt that she is living a wonderful life with the Lord complete and perfect.