Click here for the backstory.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:14-16

We adopted Hannah when she was six. We caught her and kept her from being blown by the winds of foster care. Her life (and ours) was changed forever. As she’s grown, it’s become clear that we aren’t enough to help her grow and mature and become the person she is made to be. It takes a whole community, a body of believers, to ground a person and help them become a “heavy weight” of faith — not one who is tossed back and forth by the waves and winds.

I’ve realized part of parenting is learning to let go so God can work through others to offer your child exactly what she needs. I’m not going to be able to give her everything. The more she grows into the person she is, I’m humbled to be able to offer something. God equips his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:13

God uses a whole community to build up Hannah.

Sarah who gave her nail polish and a tiara within days of being home.
Eva who was her first best friend.
Eva’s mommy who saw every good thing in Hannah and pointed them out to me.
Mimi who taught her to knit and sew.
Mamaw who taught her to shop.
Grandma Ayres who gave her Easter and Halloween and Christmas traditions.
Mrs. Hanback who sent her home a little better every single day of fourth grade.
Susan Bushong who sent her a note after a service project and told her she’s a prayer warrior.
Mrs. Messer who made her believe she has a special gift for reading and writing. 
Emma, Rebecca, Erin, and Cindy, who have taught her friendship is about loving and forgiving and laughing.
Mr. Huber who gave her a place to fit in and excel.
Cousins who thought she was cute instead of clingy.
Mrs. Howard, the librarian, who never tires of talking books and spoils Hannah by getting anything she requests.  
Ron Eberly who teaches her bible stories and how they apply to the life she is living today.

And Mr. Zimmerman. He saved Hannah this year. It might have been under the guise of math, but it was so much more. He gave her confidence. He helped her believe in herself. He brought her smile back again.

This community is a little like a spider web. The intricate design and precision enamors me. The beauty and strength of the thin threads is powerful. I think this is the way the body of Christ builds up one another. Each person a part of the web of believers who are building Hannah up so she can develop a remarkable faith.

This web is fragile and powerful all woven into a beautiful plan to build up one another. It takes a whole community to help a person become who they are made to be. Hannah has overcome a rocky past and is developing a remarkable faith because all kinds of people are woven into her story.