How do we cope with tragedy when it befalls us? Is there a course we can take to prepare for the fateful phone call throwing our world into a tailspin?
Me? As the reality starts to sink in, I like to curl up in a ball under my covers and pretend it’s not happening. Thank goodness for shock or whatever you want to call the initial hazy feeling when you’re hollow inside and you keep putting one foot in front of the other out of habit.
Two weeks ago my daughter became concerned about one of her six month old twins. She wasn’t moving her legs much and acted weak and lethargic. The doctor thought she might be coming down with something and they weren’t concerned until she lost movement in one hand - and then they were very concerned.
In the hospital, the little one continued to lose movement in her arm, her torso, her neck, the ability to laugh, smile …
Watching my baby girl, watch her baby girl, slipping away wrenched and wrung out my heart like few things have in my fifty years. It’s the kind of pain you don’t want to acknowledge. It’s the kind of pain that sneaks up on you in the shower and you hope the spray of the water drowns out the sound of your sobbing.
She lived! The Lord preserved the life of the precious little girl and she’s regained some of her mobility. The doctors haven’t discovered the cause and her legs have a long way to go without another miracle.
Can I - can you – learn to give thanks in all situations?
“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Ephesians 5:20 ESV)
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 ESV)