Love for Levins

Our family was hit with a terrible tragedy at the end of October, 2019.  My sweet grand niece, Levins, passed away. The heartache and pain that her parents, sisters, and the rest of her extended family is going through is unimaginable. There are no words to describe the loss of a child. I cannot even find words or ways in which to console my nephew, his wife or my sister. All that I can do is be there, send words of encouragement and listen when needed. There is no way for me to take away the deep, raw pain one feels when they lose a child. My heart hurts so much for them.

As I traveled back to South Carolina shortly after it happened, I experienced something that truly was the work of God. Amidst this tragedy I saw God in everything. I was amazed by his work and his intentional plan.

We do not have answers as to why God takes some people sooner than others and we definitely do not have answers to why he takes ones so young, but I do believe in his plan. I do believe that He puts people and things in our lives at the right time. I do believe that He is intentional in all things. Even if we do not understand, I do believe that there is a clear path that He provides for us. Why do I believe this? Because I have seen His good work too often. I have seen Him work in my life in the deepest and darkest moments. I have seen Him work in other people’s lives. Even in the biggest of tragedies like this one, I can still see Him.

When I arrived in South Carolina, my sister shared with me what happened the day Little Levins left this Earth. The fact that my nephew’s father in law was driving right next to him when he was rushing to the hospital was not just a coincidence. That was part of God’s plan.

The community of friends that my nephew and his wife have was not just a coincidence. It was part of God’s plan.

The church community that has enveloped them with love and strength was not just a coincidence. it was part of God’s plan.

The strength my nephew had to speak at her celebration of life was not just a coincidence. It was part of God’s plan.

The blog that my nephew started before Levins was born was not just a coincidence. It was part of God’s plan.

The love that Levins spread through her family, the hospital community, their city of Clover,  the school community, church community and the Down Syndrome community was not just a coincidence. It was part of God’s plan.

The ability for my nephew to stop and take a breath and remind everyone to “embrace the chaos” is not just a coincidence. It was part of God’s plan.

The choice to give her the family name of Levins, was not just a coincidence. It was part of God’s plan.

In her four short years she spread more love and joy than some people do in a whole lifetime.

Her story will be told for years to come. The love for Levins will continue for years to come. She created a legacy for her family and it will continue. That is all part of God’s plan.

All of that was so evident to me when I was in South Carolina. It cannot take away the pain but hopefully it can bring some comfort. It definitely brought me comfort. It makes my heart happy to know that through Levins, I can see God. I do not always understand His plan, but I can be comforted to know that Levins is one of His angels now. She is continuing to be there for her family. She is watching over everyone and continuing to teach everyone some important lessons about life.

A few days after I returned from  South Carolina I was on yard duty at my school and my colleague, who had lost a dear friend around the same time as Levins’s passing, was standing with me. A dragonfly kept circling around us. She looked at me and said “You know they say that a dragonfly is a sign of those who have passed on.” It brought us both comfort in knowing that we were surrounded by the love of Levins and my colleague’s dear friend. Not a coincidence, but part of God’s plan.

To me, it is simple…. God has a plan and we may not understand the plan, but our faith helps us navigate our way through it.