Anniversaries

I woke up at 4 AM to give Josh his IV antibiotic. It took an hour and then I went back to bed for  a little more sleep. 


After waking up and getting ready for work, Ilene reminded me that it had been 6 months since we got the diagnosis of Josh's AML (July 20, 2011). It is not yet an anniversary that we get excited about. Partly because we are still waiting to see what comes next. Partly because we still experience the pain and hurt of what we have been through and may still need to go through.


It was just another busy week in the middle of summer. It was the second week of community prayer meetings for rain, our daughter was away at summer camp, Josh had just gotten back from being in California for the month of June and we were just working our way through a busy summer towards Fall.


I remember that felling like everything in our lives had been turned upside down. The things on our calendars had to be changed, the plans for Josh and Sarah to start college classes had to change, even things that were very important to us had to be given up.


Now, 6 months later, as we look back at what we have been through, we know that we have experienced God's faithfulness and grace. We have known that He was walking through it with us, and yet we have been changed. I don't know what our lives will look like 6 months from now, but they will never be the same as they were 6 months ago.


Something has been taken from us, something that we didn't understand very well has been ripped from our lives. That part of us that believes that today will be like yesterday and things have the potential to get better, has been challenged. If you have lived your life and never been touched by serious illness, death or great loss, you may not know what I am talking about.


There is a perception that life will go on and get better, that some of the things that other people experience won't touch your life. Almost like you are immune to some of those tragedies that others experience. We are no longer naive, we have experienced how quickly life can change. Our lives have been changed.


But we are convinced that when God ids in control and that He has a plan. We are told in Romans 8:28 that:


And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 


We have seen Him at work, and He has used our journey to touch peoples lives and it may take a while for us to see all of the good that He is working out, but along the way, I am confident that nothing will separate us from God's love.


Mark the anniversaries in your life. Make note of what God has brought you through. Six months ago today, we were in shock after hearing about Josh's AML. Along the way we have lost much, things that we can never get back, but along the way we have also learned that God can overcome mountains that we can't climb, He can restore broken hearts and heal cancer.  


Our God is an awesome God.