Gifts

11 years ago, my husband and I got married after realizing we were destined to be together after only a few short months.  A few years ago my life was forever changed.  It continued to change for several years.

Our simple, happy life was turned upside down not 1, not 2, but 4 times.  My husband had major health issues.  I’ll never forget the feeling after his first heart surgery- those moments that turned into hours next to him when he came out of surgery- as he was trying to tell me with his eyes how much pain he was in and the nurses telling me there was nothing they could do until the breathing tube could come out.  I’ll never forget my amazement that 5 days later we were on our way home- 2 days before Christmas.  That year we had the most amazing Christmas- feeling joy just from the fact that we were home and together.  A year later we were facing another heart surgery.  It seemed unreal, but luckily this one was not as scary.  It was also not as long of a recovery time.  After that, things seemed to head back towards a “normal life”.

That’s when I got the call.  “He’s going to be ok, but he’s on the way to the ER.  There was an accident.”  I actually beat the ambulance to the hospital.  He had broken his back in 3 places.  Because of his recent heart surgery, they couldn’t operate.  So, they put him in a back brace hoping he would heal.  He didn’t.  A few months later, there was no option but surgery- rods and brackets and screws now hold his back together.  Although they “fixed” his back, he is forever in pain. 

At a time of struggle, I grew closer rather than further from God and my family.  At a time when I could have been angry, I chose to look at the blessing of life for my husband, and for our family.  When I was forced to fight for everything we had and to do whatever it took to make our family survive, my stubborn streak served me well.  Living day to day financially was not fun.  Taking a second job was a tough decision.  But, God blessed me by saying “I know times will be hard, but now is the time I need you to fulfill your calling.”  I was blessed to finally have the job in youth ministry that I had been dreaming of for years. 

For the last few years, I’ve been able to work 2 jobs I love because my husband has been able to stay home and take care of things.  We were able to continue to home school until our son graduated.  And, we have been blessed to find a way of life that suits us well.  Some people don’t understand our world and that’s ok.  I don’t understand the way some other people live.  Because of knowing how it feels for us to be judged, it helps me remember not to judge others even though I don’t understand.  It has helped me sympathize with others going through struggles- physically, financially, emotionally, or as a supporter of someone struggling.  I’ve dealt with them all.

We’ve lost friends.  We’ve lost family.  But, did we really?  I have been blessed with the most supportive, wonderful people surrounding me!  Those are the people God put in my path to help me through.  They are the ones who challenged me and encouraged me and my family, reminding me that I was loved.

I’ve mentioned on here before about financial peace university.  It really helped us when we were dealing with medical bills and living on a lower income.  It helped us rethink our finances and I am amazed at the turnaround since we took the class.  A year after the class, I changed jobs.  Without the class, I would not have been able to make such a significant change.  Now, almost a year after that, it’s going to be helping us again.  After years of struggling and fighting for it, God has blessed us with a gift.  Although we had been hoping for it, it came suddenly and unexpectedly.  And now we will be using our financial peace knowledge to think wisely in the near future.   I would rather have my husband healthy.  But, that’s not our life right now.  So, I am grateful that God has given us a way to make our life a little easier.

Tonight, we enjoyed dinner at a friend’s with several other guests.  My husband was able to be there.  We had a great time.  To me, that was a gift.  Some might look at all of the times I go places by myself.  But, I feel blessed that sometimes, my husband feels up to joining me.  And, when he can’t, he understands that I still want to go and that’s ok with him. 

So, where was God today?  This week, actually, He gave us a gift.  And, tonight, He gave me the gift of spending a great evening out with my husband and friends.

 Blessings,                                                                                                                                                                 Jennifer