God's Antibiotic

It's been two different times now that I've heard from a doctor that my daughter's life had been saved by some sort of medical procedure. Once was 14 years ago after she developed complications after a ruptured appendix, and the second time was a few days ago when she was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and treated aggressively and quickly. If you think about that, we've all taken antibiotics, so technically we've all been "saved" at one time or another, right?! But to have a doctor tell you that your daughter was critical and her life was very well saved by quick action from another doctor or a new medical procedure -- well, honestly that's really scary to hear. It's encouraging ... it's a moment of thankfulness ... but scary!

And I keep thinking about all of the things that God has in store for my daughter. I'm not saying that she's going to cure world hunger,or that she's going to find the answer to world peace (although she's really cute and funny. That has nothing to do with anything -- I just wanted to throw it out there!). But God obviously has a special plan and purpose for her. That might simply be to be a godly wife and mother and to train up the next generation for the Lord, and that's a wonderful calling! It might be to counsel other women in their marriages and family relationships. Who knows? But, it's her own specific purpose, planned out for her by the Father. Of course, her "general purpose" (if you want to call it that) is to walk with her Lord in fellowship and worship Him -- just as it is MY general purpose.

We moms need to pray intensely for our children -- that they will look to God for their purpose, that they will choose to follow Him and walk according to His Word ... and we need to help set that example. Honestly, there's a fate worse than ruptured appendix complications or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and that's a wasted life lived apart from the Lord. But even then, God ALWAYS has the "antibiotic" ready. What a great God we serve!!

Our Path

When my husband and I got married, we were put on a path. We were young and in love so we didn't particularly care WHAT path it was or WHERE it was going ... we were together, and that was enough.



We're older now ... hopefully wiser ... and the path has been an interesting one -- one that I'm very grateful for. I've been grateful for my incredible husband and the One Who has walked with us every step of the way.



Then we had children. And boy, did those children add twists and turns to our path! Twists, turns, ups, down, sharp corners, dizzying speeds, highs, and lows ... but again, we've all been together and that's been good.



We've grown older with our children (maybe BECAUSE of our children!), but we've learned so much more than we could have learned on our own. We've learned how to bend and not break ... how to work together as a couple ... how to love and forgive ... how to look past the moment and in to what God's doing in the future. It's been good.



And then God outdid Himself! He not only added a grandbaby to our family ... He added color to our path. Suddenly, all of the twists and turns, the sharp corners, the highs and the lows were in vivid, breathtaking colors. What beauty He added!! What joy He has multiplied!



Having a grandbaby has taught us to slow down and enjoy the simple things -- like lady bugs ... or bubble baths ... or fireworks. We've seen that God intends for us to experience great joys in this life, to relish the small moments, to take joy in the every day instances.



And God just continues to add to this path that we're on. Coming from a person who likes to be in total control and to know everything that's going on, the path has sometimes been rough. Yet, it's been a path that has led to our learning and growth, our being stretched, our being blessed. Can't wait to see what else He has in store!