Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Can you believe he said that?  Paul, who wrote much of our New Testament, sure was a crazy one.  Could he even begin to understand what we believers might go through, I'm sure he would never have written those words.  "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  1 Thessalonians 5:18.  Yet, there it is, big as life, right smack in the Holy Book.  Could he really have a clue what he was saying?  After all we've seen and experienced in these last four years, could he really have expected anything so preposterous?

I have to look back at my posts and laugh.  I had just written about how life had gotten easier when, BAM, we took Jed to the hospital for a staph infection in his bone.  Our little ninja/jedi/knight/scientist/detective.  In his words, as we were injecting him with antibiotics or changing and cleaning his incision, "why do these bad things have to happen?"  It's been a hard week.  In the last few years, every time I feel like we might be moving forward and gaining traction, there has been another big blow.  I have to fight fear when things are going well.  My brain says, "what's the next trial going to be."  My heart says, "I can't relax and enjoy this because disaster will come soon."  How can I explain this to my kid?  How can I expect him to walk this life with us?

Is that a little to vulnerable?  A little too raw?  Just wait, hang in there with me.  Even as I fought to sleep on the floor of the hospital after his surgery, God reminded me to be thankful.  Thankful that there was a hospital.  Thankful that the surgeon was so experienced and concerned and understanding.  Thankful that people cared and that we had support.  Thankful that Jed's surgery was successful.  Thankful that we had experts around us who could help us through the healing process.  You see, God has not left us alone.  Jesus promised us as much before he ascended to heaven.  "I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20.  We felt his presence in the hospital.  Even Jed was saying that he knew God was with him during surgery even when we couldn't be.  In the morning, he was telling me all the things he had to be thankful for.

So, yes, in the hard times we can give thanks.  Now, I want to use the rest of this post for giving thanks.  God has not left us alone.  Here are some blessings since the last post:

• Jed has little pain.  The first few days, it was hard to move Jed because the incision hurt, but today it hardly hurts him at all and he's trying to use crutches to get around and scooting around from here to there.  He also is able to sleep in the night.
• No more IV port!  When we left the hospital we were supposed to give Jed 5 injections every day into an IV port on his hand.  They stung bad.  He hated them and had a lot of anxiety about them.  Chris would hold him while I administered them.  Any Mom who has had to do something that causes pain to their child can imagine how difficult these times were for us.  But, God was merciful.  After 2 days, we were able to go down to only 3 injections a day.  These were supposed to continue for a week, but after we got the lab results back, the doctor told us we could switch to oral medication.  I took the IV port out last night!  2 days early!
• Speaking of the lab results, it is the most common and easy kind of infection to treat.  This means that we can use less powerful antibiotics and cause less damage to the rest of Jed while still treating and, God willing, curing the infection.
• Outside help.  We've had any number of local and foreign doctors and nurses available at all times of day and night to ask questions to, get encouragement from, and receive expertise from.  One very big help was a doctor who told us a different way to change Jed's dressings.  It causes a lot less pain and we are amazed by the progress in healing of the incision.  I couldn't even look at it the first day, but now, even Jed watches his Dad wash out and re-bandage the wound.
• Visits.  So many people have come to visit, Skyped, called, emailed, etc.  The visits, especially, have been great because Jed just comes alive when a friend comes to play a game of Monopoly or SkipBo with him.  He can see how many people are praying and loving on him.  When we had the injections in the night, I would hold Jed afterwards and put him back to sleep by reciting all the people who love him and are praying for him.
• Growth in Faith.  We have seen both Jed's and our faith grow during this time.  Jed has such a grateful heart for good news and is learning to accept hard things.  He is learning at a very young age that love for God doesn't mean escape from hurt.  He's learning that, even in the toughest circumstances, God is working in his life for good.  He is praying that people see God through this.  Amazing!

These are only a few of the things.  Even through this time, God has definitely given us enough fuel to give thanks in all circumstances.  Oh, and in case you think Paul was just a quack who had an easy life and wrote about what he didn't know, remember: he was imprisoned, beaten, stoned, tortured, shipwrecked, and finally died.  He knew what he was talking about more than we do.  Loving God doesn't mean an easy road, but it does mean the best one.  He is with us until the end.