memories of bella

its one thing to hear about a tragic story on the news, but when one happens to someone you know its a sobering reminder of the fragility of life. this particular tragedy unfolded right in front of us. on sunday night pēteris sproģis (bishop of the latvian baptist union) and his wife marta lost their four-year-old daughter izabella. the details about how everything happened are still a bit unclear, but the overarching story is not. its crystal clear. death brings new clarity to life. izabella lived a short and beautiful life and now she is together with Jesus. what a horrible and beautiful thing all at the same time. the truth that i can hold on to in times like this is that God is still good... even in death. and even when it doesnt make sense.

anna got a call sunday afternoon that izabella was in intensive care at the hospital and we began to pray. a few hours passed without any news, until we saw that pēteris had posted on facebook that bella was now in Jesus' arms. we sat in disbelief and cried. and prayed. then cried. then prayed again. i honestly struggled to know how to pray at a time like this.

i sat at my desk sobbing this morning as i reread the note pēteris had written to bella. my Bible reading happened to be from psalm 90 where moses asked God to teach him "to number his days" (vs. 12). this is one of many lessons that i will take away from izabella's life. we are never guaranteed tomorrow. every day and every breath is gracious gift from God. i have also witnessed what a powerful impact a four-year-old can have on an entire country. what a testimony to her life!

here is the note pēteris wrote his daughter the day after she died. its one of the most poweful stories that i have ever read. a true man of faith and a beautiful young life! thank you Jesus! please keep their family in your prayers over the coming weeks and months.

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Memories about Bella

by Pēteris Sproģis

Little Bella, You know that we love You!

Just yesterday we attended the anniversary service at Valmiera Church. You went to the Sunday school. Afterwards You came, sat next to mummy and drew little hearts in your new notebook. Mummy whispered to You, „I love You. You are beautiful. You will be a singer…” The service went on, and You moved to the front row to sit next to me. You drew little flowers. I whispered into Your ear, „I love You. You are very beautiful.” We told You these words often. We told You often that Jesus loves You! So often You would come up to me or mummy, snuggle up to us and say in the way only You could, „I love you!” Thank You.

Quite often You would sing to Yourself the song with this refrain, „I come, I come to you, Jesus! You are my Joy, when I don’t have it, You are my Strength when I am weak, You are my Friend when I am alone, You are MY GOD!” Once I was tired and harsh, and You started singing this song quietly to Yourself… I felt ashamed.

After the service You ran around with Your sisters and other children in the backyard, full of sunlight. We all were there. Mum took a nice picture of You. Of Your light, lovely face, of Your blue eyes. You are so beautiful!

Often I would ask You, „Why are You so beautiful?” You would say, „God made me so.”

(Bella with her smile just a few minutes before going to Heaven to be with Jesus)

We said goodbye to people, started walking towards the car, You ran a couple steps ahead of us and… You were fighting for Your next breath. We tried to bring You back, apply artificial breathing, move You… Many people around us prayed to God and called on Jesus’ Name!

A moment later You were in reanimation room... In the hallway, behind a glass wall, I collapsed on my knees and prayed to Jesus to whom we have prayed to together so often. Mummy and Your sisters prayed in the car. I prayed, prayed – but then I put You into the arms of the Heavenly Father. This thought startled me, I did not understand from where these words came to me. But even though people in reanimation were fighting for Your life, it seemed that at that moment Your soul went to Heaven.

A moment later we were standing by Your bed. Artificial breathing had been applied to You, but Your little heart had stopped beating. I kissed Your forehead and, as every night before going to bed, drew a little sign of the cross on Your forehead. You always wanted it big and, if I made it small, You corrected me…

Now You are a singer in Heaven. You sing for the glory of God! Hallelujah! We have so many memories! We drove home, it was raining and we cried. So much we did not want to part from You!

You made us so rich, and Your going Home has given us many gifts. So many incomprehensible, beautiful memories… How You danced, sang, how You could put together a puzzle by Yourself for a long time…

Oh, dear, You are with Jesus, and You are very well now. You were with us for a little more than 4 years. But Your little life, with Your little feet has left deep, lasting and big footsteps. We will never be the same again. God will use You and Your going Home for His Glory.

There are many things we do not understand and cannot comprehend but I believe that many will be in Heaven because of You! You in Your four years have done more than I in my almost 40. Already in this life we will see how God has used You. Many things we will see only in Heaven. It seems to me that already today You saved a crumbling family and two boys will again have a dad who lives for God’s Glory…

Oh, dear Bella!

We will bid farewell to You on Thursday, August 30 at 15:00 in Uzava, Your and our summer home “Nikaži”. There You ran, swung, danced, sang, fed little sheep, trained the big dog, helped in all country work, helped grandma and grandpa, walked around clinging to me…

Then we will go the cemetery by the seaside. But, as Gabite and I discussed when I was holding her on my lap, You are sitting in Jesus’ lap now, and Jesus tells You, „I LOVE YOU! YOU ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL!”

You often met me when I came home from work, ran to meet me in the backyard yelling, „Daddy!” As long as God will grant me, I will still work here and then I will come home from work and You will run to meet us! Mummy and I love You very much! You will always be in our hearts until we meet again!

Thank You!

The Lord has given, The Lord has taken away.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

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amen. thank you bella!

joe