Guest Blog- Kami Potjer

Lessons from Sydney: Lesson 1


A few days after my daughter passed away,  my nephew, a high school teacher, distributed an article about her to his students.  “Today we are going to discuss lessons from Sydney.”  I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, and even trying to write my thoughts down to share, but what I end up with is a jumbled mess of emotions and probably-too-messy -and -personal feelings; enough to write a very long book.


But today God gave me a clearer lesson. 


I remember a day following a storm.  Sydney in her chariot (the majestic name given her power chair by Grandpa Burgess)  was following her dad and me to the window to survey the damage.  “Look, a limb is down” I said.  And like a shot Syd headed for the door.  “Oh, don’t worry.  I’ll get it for you” she said.  Never mind that Sydney, who suffered from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, could barely move her fingers, let alone lift her arm to open a door.  And once she got to the limb, how would she pick it up?

Or when she played the field on her Challenger Baseball team…when a ball was hit in her direction she flew over to it, trusting her “helper” would get there and pick it up and place it in her glove.

How often do I see someone in need, and my first instinct is to rush and help. But then I stop and think… 

I can’t help them, 

I’m not strong enough,

or I don’t have the right tools,

or there’s probably nothing I can offer them.

If only I were more like Sydney and didn’t see my limitations, but trusted my “Helper” to take over for me.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Isaiah 41:10

Written by Kami Potjer 
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/05/sydney_potjer_6_touched_many_l.html