June 6, 2015 - My Wise Husband and the Toughest Job

Today, Tony and I were talking about a difficult situation that friends of ours are going through. I told him that I have a hard time understanding why God is taking so long to bring the miracle that they need, and why they are having to go through this trial. 

His response surprised me. He said, "that's how I felt when you had to have eye surgery and keep your face down, after everything else you'd been through." 

Honestly, for me, the anticipation of eye surgery was harder than actual face down time. But my perspective was so different from Tony's. I wasn't watching my spouse face-planted into the pillow or chair day after day, with a totally, SHINY bald head. I wasn't the one who had to lead his bald spouse by the hand through the parking lot into the doctor's office because she couldn't see. 

Today, I really understood how hard this journey was for him. He was there for me every day, taking me to doctor appointments, sitting in waiting rooms for three surgeries, dealing with recoveries, walking with me through chemo and its aftermath, picking up prescriptions, holding my hand when my hair fell out, telling me I was pretty and that he loved me. He made everything about this journey so much easier! I love you, Tony, and I am so thankful for you!

So I have now been on both sides, and from my perspective, it is much more difficult to be the spouse, parent or child walking with a family member through illness or tragedy, than it is to be the patient. 

For all the caregivers who are dealing with a difficult situation - God does know where you are. On the days when it is so hard to pray, to comfort, to watch what your loved one is dealing with - God knows what it is like to watch his loved one suffer. And I am praying that He will give the strength and peace that you need for this moment. 

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3:21-24 NIV)