Faith Through the Journey

It seems like a long time ago that I last posted anything on this blog. For having a very routine, ordinary life, I’ve certainly NOT had many quiet, routine days! Between travel, working for the seemingly endless Texas elections, and the successful NBA championship run by our beloved San Antonio Spurs, it’s been busy! All good, but I told my husband last week that I LONG for a “regular” week! 

June seems to be a month full of activity and occasions to remember. Honoring the dads in my life–remembering my late father, appreciating my husband who is the amazing father of our children, and the fun of celebrating the fact that my son is now a father as well!–is one of the special days in June. We have numerous family wedding anniversaries and birthdays which have increased in number as our family has grown. Graduations occur as well, marking ending milestones and new beginnings. 

There is one week in June that I will always remember. Forty years ago, within the span of the first seven days of June, I turned 18, graduated from high school, and was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. As I look back at that time, I am VERY glad I did not know what lay ahead of me over the years. God was gracious in only giving me one day at a time–He is so wise! God gave me the desires of my heart–a college degree, a wonderful godly husband, and three beautiful children. He also gave me many opportunities to teach Bible studies and be involved in music ministries. But on that fateful day in June, little did I know that Crohn’s Disease would be an asterisk that appeared many times during the course of the following years. 

I can’t remember how many procedures I’ve been through, how many medications I’ve been given, how many days my greatest accomplishment was to get the kids off to school, how many trips we’ve made to the hospital in the middle of the night, and how many wonderful people have helped us over the years by praying, bringing us meals, taking care of our children and blessing us in so many ways. Would I have “chosen” Crohn’s Disease? NO!!  Would I trade all of the lessons of the past 40 years? No…

What I would have missed: learning to be thankful that God was always with us; choosing to praise God from the place of great pain; trusting God for the health of my babies; knowing that God is big enough to handle my questions, my anger, my sadness; and knowing that God’s sustaining grace will bring me through every day. There were many days I was concerned about how my illness would affect my children. Would they suffer because their mom was sick? Would they be angry at God because I wasn’t always able to be with them? God already had that one. My children have grown up to be compassionate people, to accept whatever adversities might come their way, and to know that, no matter what the circumstances, God will ALWAYS be enough. 

Routines are comforting and safe–I’m learning to appreciate routine in my advancing years! Remembering momentous occasions in our lives allows us to look back and see where we’ve come from, how we’ve grown, and probably MOST importantly, to see the faithfulness of God over many years. God has proven His love and care through every circumstance.  He has proven Himself trustworthy (as though He needs to prove anything to us!), so I do not need to be afraid to walk with Him each and every day. He will always be bigger than the greatest trial we will ever face, and remembering all of His goodness and faithfulness only encourages us to trust Him with all of our lives.