I was going to use my first blog of the year to do one of those "let's look back at last year and see what we have learned" type of posts. But a recent series of events made me think of something else to blog about tonight.
Over the last year the lives of both sides of my family have been turned upside down, shaken to the core and our faith tested many, many times. It was a little over a year ago that we found that my mother has Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
Yes, that means it will take her life.
Within weeks of that news my husband's family got the news that Daniel was diagnosed with myleodysplasia. It is a blood disorder that without a bone marrow transplant will become Acute Myleoid Leukemia. The news was shocking and devastating.
He is only 8....
But as my Mom fought her way through the holidays, Daniel was preparing for his bone marrow transplant. Today Mom's treatments are keeping her alive and Daniel is preparing for a second bone marrow transplant.
As we headed into the New Year, I prayed that friends who had so many struggles in 2010 would have a better year ahead. For me, 2011 has so many question marks. So many things could and quite possibly will happen this year. Optimism is eluding me.
But the one thing that is consistent is my faith. I know that in the midst of illness, another disappointing test result, one more set back, that God is there. God is still working. While I know the outcome for my Mom and whatever the outcome is for Daniel, God will be glorified.
I have that hope because I know that God is faithful in His Word. Romans 8:28 tells us that "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
I have to be reminded at times that it says "all things" not just in some things. We must, no we have to, learn to trust God in "all" things. But when you are in the midst of trouble or trials, this is hard and sometimes impossible to remember.
While we see the storm, God sees the rainbow. While we see and endless bottom, God knows the way out. There is nothing that God can can not help us face. We are not alone. In the midst of the storm. On the way to the bottom. He is there. We just need to reach out to Him.
