The plan on Monday was to pack up and head to my parents' house to help look after my dad who had just gotten out of the hospital. We needed to be up and out the door in time for us to arrive before my work day started.
And my wife woke up sick. Diarrhea and vomiting sick.
We thought it was probably food related. We decided to still get on the road as quickly as possible.
A sick wife and a young kids do not make it easy to get on the road.
And here is the first really beautiful part of the day.
The night before, I had picked out three words I wanted to focus on living this particular Monday morning.
I had picked: enthusiastic, generous, and peaceful.
Normally when I feel like I'm running late, I get more and more tense until I am all out rude and grumpy. This Monday, by God's grace, I saw the morning as full of opportunities to choose enthusiasm, generosity, and peace.
Instead of seeing my wife's incapacity as a burden "to the plan" which I can so often do, I sought to serve her with joy!
I found myself glad to take on more responsibility and let her rest.
That meant that I was both watching the kids and packing everything.
With the kids too, I discovered more joy and enthusiasm about spending time with them.
Because I was really with them and not just working around them, I found creative opportunities to show them affection and get the packing done (like giving "missions" of running to tell mama something or going up and down the stairs to fetch things).
By the time we got on the road, I had to cancel both of my work meetings for the day. And by the time we got to my parent's house, my wife was very sick.
She weathered the day and by the end of it was feeling much better...and I was starting to feel worse. She and I were about to switch places.
During the day, I read this line from Jacques Philippe in his book on St. Therese of Lisieux:
"Trials are painful and mysterious; they have many aspects that cause scandal or are inexplicable, but they can also be understood as calls to make an act of faith, which then takes on immense value"
With that line in mind, I entered into the most beautiful part of the day. I was up on and off till 4am vomiting and praising God.
Honestly, and I feel a little foolish admitting it, I was scared leading up to each vomiting bout.
So I would tell Jesus about it:
"Lord, I am little and scared. I trust You. You are my God, and I love You. I want to be with You even here. I am Yours. I surrender myself to You, and I trust You".
And afterwards, shaking and sweaty and tasting the stomach acid left in my mouth and nose, I would praise God.
"Glory to You, O Lord, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love! You are mighty, and You love me so much. Even now, You are giving me exactly what I need for the fulfillment of my deepest desires. I love You, and I rejoice in Your glory"
The Lord can make all things new!!
Even in misery, He showed me the way of trust, love, and joy. Thank You, Lord!
Please share a moment of when God made things new in your life!
St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for us.
Let's be Saints!!
Isaac
