“Love Him Anyway” Blog Tour

I met Abby a few years ago at a writing conference. Her sister and my husband worked together, found out we were going to the same conference, and arranged for us to meet. I didn’t know much of Abby’s story, but when we met, was so intrigued by her strength. After hearing her story, I knew it had be told one day. I left the conference so happy to have made a new friend.

Last year this time, I frantically messaged Abby while I was sitting in Micah’s hospital room. I remember hearing the beeping of Micah’s feeding pump as I was typing, and the exhaustion of my body, but mostly the weariness of my heart. I was asking her if she knew about any financial assistance for families of children with special needs. With our third stay in the hospital that month, I knew I was going to have to quit my job to stay at home with Micah. Although I was asking her for resources, she saw past my questions to my desperation.

We had just received Micah’s Cerebral Palsy diagnosis and I was terrified. At the time, they weren’t sure if he would crawl or walk. And thinking of the future grieved my heart in the deepest way. I didn’t share any of that with Abby, but she knew. She answered my question and gave me some resources to check out, but she also gave me wisdom that night that I would remember frequently throughout those next hard months.

She told me she was sorry that Micah’s life at the moment didn’t look as I had planned it. But she also told me to enjoy him in that very moment. To enjoy each victory. To celebrate every little improvement. To etch his sweet smile in my mind forever, and don’t worry about tomorrow. I remembered her words on those really hard days. And I’m so thankful she took the time that night to pour into the very dry well of my mama heart. I was so happy to hear a few months later, she was writing her book.

We went to a different writing conference together this year, and I sobbed as she told me about parts of her book. I knew I wanted to read it as soon as it came out. I love Abby’s heart for the Lord and her passion to see what has been stolen, restored, not only in her life, but in the lives of others.

In Love You Anyway, Abby shares a raw and honest account of the journey she found herself on as her son, Wyatt, was paralyzed at seven months old. She shares the story of what seemed like a hopeless situation, turn into one laced in hope. A theme of restoration is weaved throughout her pages, and she encourages readers to see how God redeems and restores what has been broken and lost.

Even though the book has been written, I don’t feel like Wyatt’s story is over. I know Abby would say the same. The heart of the Father is for shalom, for healing and complete wholeness. He is never the author of our disease, but rather He takes what the enemy has stolen from the Fall, and restores all that is broken. Nothing is too hard for Him. I can’t wait to see how He continues to write Wyatt’s story. And in the meantime, I know Wyatt will keep fighting.

You can connect with Abby here:  

www.fightlikewyatt.com

Twitter: @fightlikewyatt

Instagram: @fightlikewyatt, @abbywbanks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wyattsfightagainsttm