Thursday, January 15, 2009

Hard Blessings



When my two year-old daughter, Kaylea Grace was diagnosed with Leukemia in March of 2000, the news threw our family into shock. We numbly followed the protocol schedule through the first 28 days of “induction therapy”…the worst of it all. My worst memory in life is laying my baby girl on a towel in the floor, and then forcing her to take meds that made her instantly sick. I remember pleading with her to hold it down so we wouldn’t have to do it again, then rocking her in my arms and singing to her till she stopped gagging. Kaylea Grace has been in remission now for almost nine years, with what we have discovered are minimal side effects.

Through two a & a half years of treatment, David and I found new personal strengths, new friends, a stronger bond with our baby girl and other family members, and a new respect for one another. In truth our marriage had been suffering from years of neglect and reckless words and behavior. This “almost” tragedy could have been the final straw…but it wasn’t…it was a new beginning.

Throughout our life we’ve faced problems that made us ask questions like “why us”, “how are we going to get through this” or “what am I being punished for now”. Once it was all said and done, we were better for it in some way, and we were always blessed.

Life deals the occasional shock: divorce, loss of a child, teenage pregnancy, bankruptcy, long term illness…we just have to remember that God has a plan. Every problem has a solution, every accident has a purpose, every hurt heals…just keep looking for the blessing on the other side.
Romans 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

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