The Bible tells us that God's ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts, and that has been quite true for our family. Not just in regards to Dale, but also our whole family and our regular, non-therapy related lives. Case in point: you would think that we have enough on our plate just working with our son to help him get better, yes? Apparently not! I told you last week how our insurance changed, and we now will be seeing all new doctors and therapists. Then, Thursday night, my oldest daughter and I went out to the van to just "run to the store." The van wouldn't start. I tried a couple of times but to no avail. We returned to the house where I informed my poor husband that there was now another "challenge" for him to tackle. He decided to wait and try it again in the morning, but it still wouldn't start. I had to call a church family to arrange rides for my girls to and from school Friday. Praise the Lord once again for our generous, loving church! When Chad got home from work on Friday, he tried using a sealant on the windshield (this has been a problem before). We had to let it set for 24 hours before we could tell if it had done the job or not. Not. So we were down to one vehicle---my husband's truck. This wouldn't be such a bad thing if his truck were built a little lower to the ground! We have to hoist our youngest up to get her inside; her legs just don't reach that far. Dale and I both have to grip the handles to gain enough support to climb up into the cab. It was probably quite a comical sight watching us attempt to clamber in, get settled, and find all the appropriate seat belts! Sunday morning, Chad took the two older girls up early to do bus routes, then drove himself and our two younger girls to church. Dale and I stayed home because Dale was really shaky and had almost fallen twice just walking down the stairs. I don't think he got enough sleep and was just very tired---a theory borne out by his falling asleep on the couch shortly after making it downstairs. We were all able to go to the Sunday night service though. Dale did his usual leaning over, putting his head down on my shoulder, and sitting up again all through the service. I believe he just has a harder time processing all the sights and sounds than the rest of us do. He sang a few words of the hymns and followed along in the Bible when we read. I love to see him remembering God's house and how to worship Him! During the invitation, Dale wanted to go the altar and pray with his Dad. He tried to kneel down but couldn't seem to get it right. Chad motioned to me to help him back to our pew (we sit right on the front row), but Dale seemed really sad and almost about to cry. Chad, in his God-given fatherly wisdom, realized Dale's need to pray and helped him bend his knees to kneel at the altar for a minute. Thank You, Lord, for a son who still desires to speak with You and will do anything, including cry in church, to get us to help him perform that which he feels You wish. And, thank You, Lord, for a husband who is wise and intuitive and doesn't brush off a difficult feat based on what others have told us Dale can or cannot do.
Well, Chad called the auto repair shop to have them tow our sickly van and was told they can't get it until tomorrow because today is a holiday. I know Christopher Columbus is important to our country and all, but come on! Just kidding. This is all in God's mysterious timing, and He has a purpose and plan already in motion. If I didn't believe that, I would go nuts. Oops, too late!
On a better note, Dale seems to be having a really "on" day! This is especially surprising, considering this is a Monday. He woke up very well this morning. I was able to assist him in the bathtub. He got scared trying to boost himself up out of the tub after washing, but I was there to help lift him. We try not to act scared around him as if we just barely caught him before he fell, but rather we try to reassure him that we are right there holding on to him and he can trust us to hold him up in case he stumbles and/or falls. Sounds like our Heavenly Father, doesn't it? He's not standing over us, waiting for us to slip up; rather, He is holding us up, right there to catch us if we stumble or fall. We have a gracious God ---One full of grace and mercy, love and forgiveness, compassion and intercession, justice and righteousness. He is so good to us every day, and we take His generosity for granted. He gives us life, and we run away with His gift. We please ourselves when we should be seeking to please Him. We consider our presence in church on Sunday a favor granted to God when we should be entering His presence on a daily basis, begging Him for His guidance in even the smallest areas of our lives. We should realize that there is nothing we can do for ourselves that cannot be accomplished a thousand times better with His hand. Please, Lord, forgive me for living as if I only need You for certain things---for hard times, for illness, for medical bills, for car repairs. I humbly ask Your help so that I may see how masterfully you orchestrate my entire life, from my smallest unspoken want to my most immense and intense heart's plea: all lovingly and carefully planned so that it is obvious even to my untrained, human eye that there is a God in heaven Who did not create this universe and then abandon it to the whims of fate but instead is drawing all men unto Himself so that they might be saved and, then, might praise Him for the wonderful Abba that He is. I love you, Lord.
As you probably already figured out, all new doctor appointments and therapies are cancelled unto further notice, due to unforeseen major mechanical malfunctions. I know you are already praying for Dale's recovery and he is doing great, but would you please also pray that God heals our van? It's certainly beyond my comprehension; all I'm able to do is pop the hood (after spending some moments searching for the proper lever) and then stand gazing into the van's innards, wondering what on earth all those dirty cords and tubes and strange-looking plugs are for. My husband is the mechanic in the family, and even he is at a loss. We are hoping that the repair shop mechanics will not be in a similar state. Thanking God always in all things if not always for all things and praying God's blessing upon you and yours, I hope you have a wonderful day!
Philippians 2:13-16 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perserve nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."
A friend of mine told me a gifted mechanic's motto should be: "Oh ratchet man that I am." :-) Will pray for your van and look forward to hearing the unfolding story.
ReplyDeleteI really admire Dale. Imagine! A young man of twelve so intent on humbling himself before God. In a culture which does not have any clear rite of passage for guys, God seems to be giving this fellow one all his own as he enters the world of a man.
By the way, if you don't mind, "turnabout's fair play." My second son is an over-the-road truck driver who is at a major fork in the road with his old Ford truck. He and his wife and six children face some major financial decisions. If you (and especially Dale) happen to think of him, your prayers would be appreciated. Why ask someone overburdened with their own needs to pray for someone else? Because YOU know what it's like to be overburdened.
Keep on keeping on. Jesus is worth it.