"For Today, It's Good" - June 16, 2018

“For today, it’s good.” 

I had an eye injection on Thursday - all good. But I woke up on Friday with indicators of another tear in my retina. Off to the eye specialist who said, “For today, it’s good.” Then he gave me a list of things to watch for this weekend, said to call if anything changes, and scheduled me to come back next week so he can see how things are looking in my retina. 

As yesterday unfolded, it felt like things were falling apart all around us. A newborn baby having a difficult time after surgery; friends being admitted to the hospital; upcoming appointments for friends and family who are waiting for news, uncertain of what next steps will look like in their lives.

It FELT like things were falling apart - but feelings are not accurate indicators of the truth of situations! What we can see is not always a clear picture of what God is doing. I’ve never felt that the words of these familiar verses have been more applicable, and I have never understood them so clearly, as I do today. 

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:34 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭

“For today, it’s good.” Sometimes even “For this moment, it’s good.” Most of us rush past this moment, this day, trying to figure out what’s ahead. But God is saying to live, appreciate, take in THIS day. That He is enough for any situation. And to trust His character and His plan for tomorrow.

June 12, 2018

The words below were written by a mother who lost her sweet daughter to cancer. I never had a true “heart knowledge” of what she is saying until our family’s journey with Tucker’s heart began. That journey unlocked another dimension to life; one that has included pain, but it is, above all, a deeper, richer trust in the character of God. Her words are profound:

“I've found that in great suffering you learn whether or not your beliefs have base. Whether the words you spout to another who has hurt will ring true in your ears when you are in pain or whether you will find that your tongue only speaks pretty jibberish and your heart is numb. I have found that the words I have read and the beliefs that I have imagined myself to be trusting on are as solid as the rocks I walk across. 

The Word of God is neither frivolous nor meandering and it is the very faith that I have in each vowel and consonant that God has put forth that has kept this walking wounded mother from despair. Only this trust. Only this. Only.” - S. Needham

June 6, 2018

“This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.” 1 Peter‬ ‭2:21-25‬ ‭MSG‬‬

We can become so indignant when we think something isn’t fair, that we don’t deserve the treatment that we receive. But the example that Jesus set for us - Jesus, who did nothing wrong, who truly didn’t deserve the treatment he received, is sobering. It’s not about fair or unfair treatment - it’s about living a life that shows God’s love and grace, despite our circumstances.

May 30, 2018

“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭CEB‬‬

“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm‬ ‭94:18-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yesterday, I went back to my eye doctor for a follow up from the laser work and the retina looked good. My vision is still really blurry but hopefully that will improve. 

So why do I feel worried?

I think that when we have been dealing with long-term or chronic situations (health, relationship, job issues), a “good” report can feel scary. Surreal. Inaccurate. Temporary. It seems good, but after so many ups and downs, we are hesitant to celebrate when good news comes our way. We are anxious. 

God knew that we would have these days, and he’s given us a perfect plan for handling it all - to give thanks and not be anxious. To react in a way that is contrary to what our natural mind is telling us. To choose the truth of God’s Word over the uncertainty of our situations. 

We really do have a choice every day - to choose joy or to choose fear. Today, I am choosing joy. :)

May 20, 2018

Thanks to everyone who has checked on us! My eye is definitely doing better. 🙂

Most of us like to know how a story ends. That’s how we want life to work: you have a problem, you find the solution and things are resolved. That’s how we’d like it to work - but it usually isn’t that way. 🙂

The story of my eyes has turned into a long journey of eye surgeries, laser procedures, and about 20 “intraocular injections” to date, with no end in sight. It’s tedious and a little scary, if I try to figure it out by myself. 

That is when I am reminded of how, in times of fear or discouragement, the truth of God’s Word (telling me that He knows the future and is in control) is so much more powerful and effective than any internet or WebMD facts I might possess. I only know what I can see - but God sees the big picture. 

I’m getting better with not knowing how it all turns out.  🙂 As long as we keep our focus on Him, He will give us the peace we need to deal with whatever the day may bring. I am so grateful for that peace!!

May 18, 2018

déjà vu!!

I was in this same place last Friday at this time. Last week I had one retinal tear. This week, I have two retinal tears. 😃 Getting ready for another more extensive laser procedure. 

I was so surprised because my vision has seemed better!! Oh well. At least it wasn’t detached!!

UPDATE: I'm done and home! I didn't tolerate it very well (translation: it hurt and I cried quite a bit!) but it's over! Time to recuperate. And I am so thankful for a great doctor and team.  :) Thank you for the prayers.

May 14, 2018

The last few months have been interesting! I have had some very literal ups and downs.  😁. Weird ear issues, memory and balance problems, falling, ongoing eye treatment. Sometimes I feel I am in a “whack-a-mole” game; one thing calms down and something else comes up. Nothing is life-threatening; it’s just unexpected and a little frustrating! 

Lots of us can relate to that. Our life is not looking the way we thought it would. We’d like to have happy, calm lives where no one is sick, no appliances break, no one loses their job, nothing frustrating happens, there is enough (time, money, energy). But that’s not the way life works - I am so glad that God is with us in these seasons!

After dealing with a torn retina this weekend and wondering how this eye stuff is ultimately going to work out, these verses were extremely comforting and helpful to me. Yes, we have problems in life - but God is bigger!!

“We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭CEB‬‬

“He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭CEB‬‬

It is all about perspective! I can focus on the frustration or I can focus on the blessings. I am blessed with incredible friendships, an amazing church family, and work that I love. 

I am praying for friends today who truly are facing life and death issues. I’m praying for friends who are getting weary of the difficult situations that don’t seem to end. I’m praying for friends who are rejoicing in happy seasons of blessing. God knows where we all are. He loves us - so much more than we can comprehend!!