The cast of characters!!

The cast of characters!!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Wherever I go? Wherever I go!!

In the last week a lot of life has swirled around me.

  • Trent arrived home to cheers, balloons and hugs.
  • I waved goodbye to my friend Jennifer with smiles, tears and hugs.
  • Today I'm facing the giant

It seems on many levels that Isaiah is the healthiest kid in our house. I know I take him to specialist appointments (4 last year), but he went from physical to physical with no need for any intervention.

I forget his body is fighting a giant.

We give him a shot every night, to maximize his growth, but that has become so routine and it's just part of life. Every 4 months he needs a blood draw to monitor his levels, but we just do it and...

I forget his body is struggling in ways mine doesn't.

When I see him running around, playing with his siblings, swimming, jumping, doing every thing that every little boy does. I even forget that his hands are different. He's Isaiah, those are his hands.

I forget his body looks different and has been imprinted by the giant.

So all this to say on most days we are just doing life, minding our own business, enjoying every moment to the fullest. Trying to be like Isaiah!

But once a year we have to come face to face with the giant. In order to watch and monitor in the way that Isaiah needs it. We travel to Minnesota where he receives a bone marrow biopsy. We meet with his team of doctors and always learn more about the disease and get a closer picture of the foe.

It's surreal. Most of the time I don't give this diagnosis the time of day, but once a year we have to look deeper.

Kent and I were on a date last night and he asked me how are you feeling about Isaiah's appointment. I smiled and  said, "I'm not worried, I mean he's the healthiest kid in our house, but I guess sometimes I wonder, how will the time come when we realize it's time to take action. Time for the transplant. Will we go to an appointment and get the results that their is something going on in his marrow that requires us to prepare for the transplant."

We talked about it and agreed God is the One who knows those details and we can trust Him to provide for us on that day.

So as I reflect on my next few days.  From Monday morning around 7 until Wednesday morning around 7. Isaiah, Spencer and I will ride the S.S. Badger twice, rent a car and drive 10 hours. Kent will be flying. Isaiah will have his bone marrow biopsy at 10:00 Michigan time on Tuesday, we will meet with 3 doctors and hear any pertinent news on the giant.

I want to respond properly to these emotions and feelings and knowledge. So I reflect on what God has been saying in His word. I've seen this verse recently at least 3 times.

Joshua 1:9

English Standard Version (ESV)
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

This morning as I think on this verse...it's the wherever you go that is especially blinking boldly for me. Wherever I go. Wow do I love that promise. I've got a lot of places to go this week, physically, emotionally, spiritually. But wherever I go the one who defeats every giant is with me, and he knows that on occassion I need the gentle or not so gentle reminder that because He is with me, fear and dismay are not part of our arsenal.

He is all that I need and while I am at it, I need to make sure that Isaiah, Spencer and Will can observe in my life that I believe that with my whole heart, soul and mind.