As we enter this holiday season, I realize there are so many
of us dealing with difficult circumstances, grief, or just may be having a hard
time. From my perspective, the holidays
can be really hard when dealing with the loss of a loved one, dealing with
seemingly hopeless situations, such as critical illnesses, or for some, even
financial hardships.
Around Christmastime, my husband and I have decided that we
will get our children a couple gifts while ensuring they understand why we
celebrate Christmas as a family. A few
days ago, I asked my two-year-old son what he wanted us to get him for a
Christmas gift. He looked at me with a
huge smile and his eyes twinkled with joy as he said excitedly, “I want a
Christmas tree and a Christmas hat!”
Such a simple request from a child who has been through so much this
year. He’s had to adjust to so many
changes with a new baby brother who was born early and was in the hospital for
nearly four months. He has tagged along
with us to doctor appointments and, at times, he must wait for the simplest
things because we have to tend to his brother.
As a mom, sometimes it hurts my heart because I want both my boys to
have the best of me and I don’t always feel that I am doing that. But nevertheless, my two-year-old son is full
of joy and loves his family so much.
Over the past several months, I have learned a great deal
from observing my kids. My older son (2 yr.
old) has this disposition about him that when he hurts himself in any way, he
will ask me or his dad to pray for him, or he will pray for himself. Immediately after the prayer is complete, he
says with enthusiasm, “all better now!”
He then resumes playing or whatever he was doing as if he never hurt
himself. My youngest son has been
fighting to live since he was born in April of this year. Recently he caught a virus that really
affected his breathing, (even with being supported with oxygen at home). One evening, his heart rate and oxygen level
dropped and even when we turned his oxygen up as far as we could at home,
nothing was changing. I called 911 and
he was transported by ambulance to the hospital. As I watched him, as awful as I know he felt,
he had a smile on his face. Even the
doctors and nurses were surprised at how happy he was.
I have this desire to be more like my boys when faced with
worry or difficult situations: to be able to have so much peace that I can
smile in the worst of circumstances.
Also, once I pray about a matter, that I will truly know and behave as
if God has answered my prayers even if I don’t see the manifestation yet. In all honesty, I am not there yet, but I
strive to be. There have been many
moments this year that I have worried so much about my son in the hospital that
I found it difficult to even find the words to pray. Even knowing that God answers prayers, I
still found myself trying to figure out how and when God would heal my
child. I tortured myself with wondering
what I could have done differently while pregnant, although I knew there was
nothing I could have done. I am thankful
that my husband and I were surrounded with people who prayed and fasted for us
and our children, and for those who loved on us consistently.
As I was thinking about these things, I was reminded of this
scripture: but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you[My
lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough-always available-regardless of
the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows
itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more
gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely
enfold me and] may dwell in me. So I am
well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions,
and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human
strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from
God’s strength] 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (amp).
This scripture helps me remember during those times of distress or
feeling ill-equipped and overwhelmed, I can trust that is the time that God’s
strength will pull me through. I could
probably write a book on all the times I can remember when I had done all I
could, or there was nothing I could do, and God has never failed to assure me
of His presence.
If you are reading this and are dealing with difficulty in
your life, it is my prayer that you can sense God’s presence in the midst of
it. I pray that God’s peace will calm
you and that the Holy Spirit will comfort you.
I pray that in your weakness His strength, power, and anointing will
consume you and that you will rest in Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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