A gift I take for granted...

  I have been so blessed with four healthy children.  Sometimes I forget what an amazing blessing that is.  They are almost never sick and when they have been, it's always just been the normal kid's-gone-in-a-day-or-two type illness.  They even have really good teeth and we've only had a cavity or two for all 4 of them combined! 

Yesterday I had to take Wes to have a tooth pulled and they had to put him to sleep to do it.  Also, recently Ben fell and bumped his head and ended up with a concussion and in the hospital.  Let me just say, I'm a wimp with this kind of stuff!  In both of these cases I had to see one of my children a little out of their minds.  I DO NOT like that.  In both instances, their eyes would roll back, they couldn't communicate, they just seemed so out of it and helpless. 

All I could think of yesterday as Wes was hooked to an IV, was Corbin Collier, (a little boy at our church who has cancer and is in the middle of chemo) and his parents...  Thinking about the excruciating pain they must all be in was overwhelming to me all day.  There's no telling what that sweet little boy is having to endure.  I'm sure he's being poked, tested and loaded up with all kinds of drugs that make him feel awful.  Watching those things happen to your baby would be unbearable.  His mom and dad must be in misery. 

I also have a childhood friend, Tim Coe, whose wife is dealing with cancer.  They have 4 children!  She's been in treatment for a while, which she recently found out has stopped working.  Obviously, they are grasping at God for his next steps towards her healing.  I can't imagine the fear that could accompany that situation if they don't constantly lean on the hope that comes from knowing God can and does take away disease and pain. 

I feel so humbled and spoiled by the fact that my family enjoys day to day health.  God is so good to us.  I'm praying for these situations daily.  I hope if you're reading this, you'll join me...  If you know them or not.