Sandy will have a new stent put in during the second week of March, about the same time that a new set of scans will be taken. This new chemo drug is a bit less friendly than the last one; we hope that means it is doing its job exceedingly well. Please pray for healing, a strong immune system, quality rest, a healthy appetite, and no fevers.
And in case you were curious…her birthday is March 5 :)
At the Glory Babies meeting at church tonight, God gave me a fresh picture of the idea of choosing thankfulness each day. I've been on this thankfulness journey for several years now, but sometimes it's good to have a new way of looking at things.
Imagine you are at one end of a street, and by the end of the day need to have walked to the other end of the street. Between your current location and your goal are one hundred puddles filled with muddy water. Also between your current location and your goal are one hundred nicely wrapped presents. The puddles and presents are all scattered about randomly, but in such a way that it is impossible to travel down the street without encountering quite a few of each.
On what will you focus? The puddles? Will you look from puddle to puddle, perhaps even tripping over the presents as you try to gingerly step over or around each puddle? Or will you keep your eyes on the presents, eagerly making your way from one to the next, joyfully anticipating what might be inside each one?
Focusing on the presents doesn't make the puddles disappear any more than focusing on the puddles would make the presents disappear. You're likely to slip into a few puddles even if you're focusing on the presents, and you'll likely finish the journey with mud on your clothes. But will you also have gifts in your arms? Or will you have left them unopened?
If I'm going to end up muddy on this journey, I want to have done it with delight, enjoying every good thing possible along the way. What about you? If I asked you how many presents you've encountered this week, would you know? Or would you instead be quick to tell me the long list of puddles that have been in your way?
I think it's time to put on some rain boots and start opening presents.
Thank you for continuing to update us on Sandy's journey. While I know my puddles look different than the ones you are experiencing, we have the same choice to choose to be thankful. Thank you for a beautiful word picture as a reminder in my own journey.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid, I enjoyed playing in the puddles. As an adult, I think of them as inconveniences. Funny how that happens. Each day begins a new journey. Yesterday's journey is over and tomorrow's has yet to begin. I continue to pray for you and the family. In the words of my favorite professor, "go out and be brilliant!"
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