We all have those days. Where one bad thing piles on another, until you ask yourself, “Is this really happening?” That was our weekend.
Friday was a busy day at the office, a short staffed kind of day. In the middle of that, my wife started to have chest pains. Several hours later, she was headed to emergency while I stayed at home with our four children. That night, our beloved dog Nacho never came home. Saturday morning, our son started throwing up. The proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, you know?
And that's the moment where the temptation to give in comes. As I rolled my eyes upward, the thought comes; “What now, Lord? What else have you got for me?”.
Thankfully, I've been through hard times. I've experienced this moment before. And I've heard Him answer and He has guided me to new life. The truth is, all good gifts come from above. This is my reality. We benefit from mercies we don't even see, mercies we overlook.
By Sunday, my son was recovered. My wife was home and feeling much better. Sadly, Nacho was found lying in the middle of the road, a victim of her failing eyesight and early winter nights. But, as we buried her body on Sunday morning, even that was an opportunity to teach our children about death. How it wasn't a part of His design and how it has no place in the world to come.
And so when these moments come, I'm so thankful He's taught me to sing with the hymn writers of old.
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
Amen.
