Reflections From a Country Girl

A friend came by in his truck on the way home from painting a house the other day.  I hadn’t seen him in months.  He knew I had been in the hospital but he hadn’t heard the latest news about the bone marrow transplant.  He invited me to go see the new house that he and his family just moved into last week.  

I felt like a ride so we headed out to their place to see it.  

It was a great visit.  On the way back, he asked me about where I was on the religious front right now.  We had had many a conversation about faith, going to church, and God.  He wondered where I was on all of this after hearing the devastating news.  

It was a good question.  So, where IS GOD in all of this?

I’ve been a person of faith for many years.  Growing up in my little country church made me question religion and develop my awareness of God on a daily basis.  It helped me develop an appreciation of God and what he does for us. I certainly know that, but by the grace of God, I could be in other less blessed places.  

So where does he fit in with me now?  Why doesn’t he just “heal me” without having to go through treatments…and maybe even die?  

I really don’t expect God to keep me from pain and illness.  I know he could if he wants to and, if he did, that would be great.  I also know that we all must die at some point.  We are all terminally ill – if you will allow me to take those liberties in describing our bodies.  

I do know that, even though we may not deserve this kind of grace and care, that God loves us and will be right there with us through things – the good and the bad.  He will be there to wrap his loving arms around us, our families, and our friends during times of difficulty.  When it is time to go, hopefully many years from now, he will carry us to a permanent place of comfort and peace and will even support each of those who remain as much as they will allow in their time of sorrow and adjustment.  

There is a great peace in that for those of us who are believers.  That is where God is.  Right there with us in the trenches – sometimes holding our hand – sometime carrying us through them. 

My wish for you today is that you or your loved ones never have to experience a place of illness and tragedy.  However, if you do find yourself in that place, that you embrace the love of a God that is gracious and caring.  Though you may feel like you don’t deserve it, that care and love is there if your faith is there to accept it.  

~ Joellen

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 at 10:31:am and is filed under Faith, Health, illness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.