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Hard Things Happen
by Darlene Casino My first crisis as a new Christian began on a Friday night when my 6-year old son asked to spend the night at his friend's house. I knew the occasion would call for lots of junk food and late hours, but it was only across the street and I was friends with the mother. I agreed. It was no surprise that he arrived home in the morning complaining of a stomach ache. We were committed to taking our church youth group biking that day to a nearby state forest. With my teenage sister visiting for the weekend, we felt comfortable in leaving him in her care. Later that afternoon we found his discomfort was not intense, though he had been a bit lethargic during the day. The next day was Easter, and a glorious one at that! By mid-afternoon, the temperature was expected to be in the high '70's'. Jim still felt out of sorts and a little warm to the touch. We again left him with my sister while we went to church. By the time we arrived home his status had changed dramatically; his temperature had shot up to over 103 drgrees and he was holding his side saying, "It really hurts." At my husband's direction I called the E.R. and spoke with a nurse who said we should bring him there. I was amazed as this was a holiday. Upon our arrival, we were met by an orderly. "Is this the child we've been waiting for?" he asked. Before I could answer, we were wisked into an examining room. The doctor ordered some tests and we waited. The wait seemed endless before he returned. "I'm still not sure what's going on, but he's a sick little boy." He said somberly. "I'm asking the surgeon who is on today to take a look." He arrived and introduced himself. It seems he was head of surgery, and 'just happen' to be attending a private patient in the next cubicle. It was determined that my son had some kind of a intestinal blockage and they needed to do exploratory surgery. We again sat waiting, and praying;very aware that this was a 'God-thing'. In what seemed like an eternity, the surgeon returned. "It's very serious," he reported. "His appendix has ruptured, maybe several days ago, and his abdomen is full of peritonitis. If you had waited much longer he would be dead. As it is, we need to get the infection under control and get his fever down. He is in critical condition." Jim spent the next four days in the critical care unit, hooked up to many tubes. This mother's heart broke for all the pain he was experiencing. As a young Christian, I called out to God. "Why did you allow this thing to happen?" I cried. Sitting with him those days, I turned to my Bible and my God for comfort and hope. My church held us up before the throne of God. Somehow peace and assurance began to fill my being. I remembered the teaching of my pastor in 1 Peter. He had said that as a Christian we are preparing for a trial, experiencing one, or recovering from a trial. He went on to say that it is God who decides the type and timing of each one. Through the indwelling Spirit, and His enablement, we are strengthened from within to endure whatever pain and hardship come our way. Through the years, I have experienced that strengthening with each hardship, pain and trial that comes my way. I have experienced for myself the truth that is found in the amplified version of Philippians 4:13. It doesn't happen overnight or without a few 'hissy fits' along the way! "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency) I am a freelance writer and a retired nurse. I have 3 grown sons, 2 daughters-in-love and 5 grandchildren. My husband and I will celebrate our 48th anniversary in '08'. I became serious about writing after my retirement. My work has only been published on-line thus far. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |