Little did I know that we were going to get a chance to make this scripture practical in our daily lives like never before.
I got pregnant early in 2008. Hooray, that was something easy for which to be thankful! The year and the pregnancy progressed quite uneventfully. The delivery was quick and uncomplicated until I began to hemorrhage so badly that it could not be stopped. I was rushed to ER where I was miraculously kept alive. After 10 days in the hospital recovering from post-partum pre-eclampsia with DIC (when your blood cells explode rather than coagulate) & acute kidney failure, it was difficult to give thanks, but we did! I was miraculously alive, and I had a beautiful son (Ian Timothy) who was perfect in every way!
We were so thankful for God’s provision and saw His hand in every moment of my life those early days of recovery. We were in awe to see how God orchestrated the ambulance, the ‘round the clock help at home, the fast acting midwives and ER workers. The many nursing moms who donated milk for Ian, my miraculous ability to still nurse part time, even while having kidney dialysis every 2-3 days for the first month. It was easy to give thanks because I could do nothing else. I was so helpless, that all I could do was see God work around me and be amazed at His love for me, and my family and his desire to use those around me to bless me, and others by this life changing event.
As the winter wore on, hospital bills were astronomical, but God, who is the creator of the Universe, provided a way for all the hospital bills to be paid. We saw bills for well over $60,000 for my time in the hospital. There were bills we never even saw because they were paid, or “taken care of” as I was often told on the phone, before there was a need to send a statement. Thank you God, you know our every need. Well all that was 2008! We had a quiet family Christmas being thankful for the generosity of others and the bounty of God’s love for us.
As the sleepless nights began taking their toll, like they always do for parents of newborns and toddlers, we started 2009 in a fog. By the end of the year, I was exhausted from the long recovery process I was in as well as taking care of 2 kiddos that are full of energy & prefer to be awake rather than asleep. Tim was doing everything possible to keep his business alive, but it soon became clear that the economy was going to get the best of us. It was time to think of moving on. After a number of interviews, Tim was hired at another chiropractor’s office and we were able to move forward with closing his office. He began work in February 2010. What a difficult transition for all of us. Even though Tim was working and that relieved some stress, there was still a mountain of uphill climbing to close his business. It became clear that the only way was to file bankruptcy.
In May, we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. It was bitter sweet, because that same day we also finalized our bankruptcy proceedings. We were thankful for the clean slate to begin again, but we were emotionally in shock over what had happened in the last 18 months.
After shaking it out a bit, we again saw ourselves holding onto the truth that God is a great God! He desires us to be thankful and glorify Him in all things. He is there, not to save us from the circumstances of life, but to lovingly guide and protect us through them as we seek to follow Him. “In everything give thanks”, still rang true. It became my mantra. It brought comfort and peace knowing that if I have breath, I must praise God! I don’t think it means we have to have a smile pasted on our face. God desires honesty. We can’t fool him anyhow! But he does want us to lay it all at his feet, so our arms are so empty that there is only room to embrace Him and what He has for us.
We have been transformed. Tim & I are enjoying a strong marriage that has been a foundation to stand on as we navigate this life together. We have experienced firsthand ‘when one is weak, the other is strong”. God is so good! So passionate about his children! So excited when we succeed in His economy! So blessed when we give all praise and honor and glory to Him.
We have suffered. Maybe not as much as others we know who have encountered similar circumstances. But we have made a conscious choice to give thanks! So this year has had its ups & downs. High points and low points. But they all point to God’s unfailing, constant, passionate love for us.
We hope that regardless of life’s circumstances this year that you too are able to give all glory and honor to the Creator of All Things. He is worthy to be praised!
Blessings from us to you for 2011. May God’s glory be revealed in your life this year!
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