A Long Road

"Then they asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:32

Before we have a story that's worth telling, we sometimes have to walk a long, hard road. 

I love the story in Luke 24 about Jesus appearing to two downcast believers who were walking to Emmaus. They were filled with grief over his death and were talking when he came up beside them. They didn't realize who it was, and he joined them in their walk and explained what the Scriptures said about him.

My family and I have been walking a long hard road. For the last two months we've grieved, worried, prayed and praised God for all we've learned and experienced, and I've hardly been able to write.

I didn't know how to talk about it here, or if it was something I should share while we're still in the thick of it. But our stories shape and change us, and I've changed as a result. If I can't write about it, I might as well stop writing at all, and that's not going to happen.

One of my children has been suffering with depression and anxiety that's so severe, medical intervention was necessary. It's been extremely difficult, and I'm still praying about what to tell. I trust that since Jesus has been walking along the road with us, He'll guide me and help shape my stories. Because I want to honor my child, I won't share any personal details unless I get permission.  The stories I tell will be my own, and from the perspective of a parent.

Here is what I want you to know right now, especially for anyone who has loved ones struggling with depression or anxiety or if you are suffering yourself:

 Christ is with you.

He sees your downcast spirit and will never leave your side. You may not be able to see him right now through the difficulty and darkness, but make no mistake, He is there!

          Shout for joy, O heavens;

               rejoice, O earth;

               burst into song, O mountains!

           For the Lord comforts his people

               and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

                                        Isaiah 49:13

Grateful

I'm filled with gratitude for our great God who never leaves us.

I meant to write this post shortly after I was burned, but I waited a few days because I wanted to get the words just right. I found them a few days later, during an ambulance ride with my son.

Here's all I really needed to say:

                             Thank You God!

Two weeks ago we were going to a birthday party for my brother-in-law. My husband made a brisket and asked me to cover it with foil and put it in the oven. When I put the meat in, there was no liquid in the roasting pan. When I took it out, two hours later, I accidentally tilted it a bit.

A half-gallon of two hundred degree liquid spilled out of the pan onto my stomach and legs. It turned out that my husband added liquid during the cooking process and didn't cover it tightly. He also didn't let me know in advance, so I was stupefied as I cried out for help. Fortunately, I was wearing a dress and was able to arch my body away so that the hot liquid didn't cling to my skin for long.

I went to the party with a scalded leg, an ice pack, and the knowledge that I'd been spared from a major burn.

I won't go into all the details about my ambulance ride because it's too long to explain and I'm still processing. Last week, my 10-year old son, Sam, was in a terrible golf cart accident. It flipped over on him and he was pinned underneath. It is by far, the worst thing we've ever experienced as a family.

I held his hand in the ambulance while he cried because he was afraid he was going to die.

I told him Jesus was with us, right there... and He was.

Despite the fact that he says he looks like Two Face from the Batman movie, God spared my son.

Battery acid spilled everywhere, yet none of it touched him. He was pinned, yet had no internal injuries or broken bones. He face planted, and while his face is a mess for now, his eyes, teeth and nose were spared - they had to super glue his chin together, but even that's a testament to God's goodness - my son was terrified of having stitches.

So we are very grateful...  Thank you God!

"I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:2