How broad are your shoulders?? Can you bear the weight of the World? Jesus carried all of our sins on the cross...what can you carry in life?
People always say that "God will not give you more than you can handle." Sometimes we want to slap the people who say these words...but they are oh so true. God knows the weight you can bare and how broad your shoulders are...even when you may not. "My help comes from the Lord, Who made Heaven and Earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber." Psalms 121:2-3
While we were in the NICU, I couldn't imagine not having a Faith. A Faith that let me know that my babies were going to be OK. A Faith that held my hand, that allowed me to cry as well as smile and a Faith that helped me rely on God when I thought I couldn't rely on my ownself anymore. Faith is the key. God is the answer.
When things are placed on our shoulders, we can turn to God for help or away from God in anger. We can ask "why" or "how come" or we can simply pray for help and guidance. God knows there are times we will be upset or hurt by the burdens life brings us...but He prays for us to return to Him.
Yes, Parker has casts and yes it is hard watching them get cut off each week and holding him down while he gets new ones. The stares of strangers are even harder. But I don't want pity for Parker. I hurt for him. But I truly believe in my heart that God is making me and Parker stronger by this.
Yes being in the NICU and PICU was a struggle, but I truly feel that God knew I could handle it. He knew my shoulders were broad and that they stay at St. Johns was going to make me stronger. Stronger in my faith, a stronger mom and even a better mom because of it all.
God deals you cards in life. Each hand may be different but it is up to you to decide how you will handle those cards. Will you have broad shoulders?? or will you crumble? Either way, God is beside you each step of the way.
"Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you.He will never allow the rightoues to be moved. " Psalm 55:22
Friday, July 15, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Journeys
Journeys through life require God to be in control. God does not promise us that life will be easy, or to always rush to our rescue, but He does promise to comfort us and to walk with us through every journey in life. Through out our lives, we will have many journeys. Journeys across the world, journeys that make us stronger and journeys that we learn and grow from. At the age of 3 months, the babies had to make one of these journeys....a journey that was 1300 miles.
Last Thursday, my Uncle Tom, suffered from a massive heart attack. We were not sure what the medical team would say quite yet, but we knew we needed to get down to Florida to see him and be with my Aunt and family. We weren't sure how we could get down there. With 3 month old babies, your life suddenly isn't the "pack up and go" lifestyle anymore....but that is what we did. I have driven/riden the "Florida Route" several times with my family, but this was my first time to make this journey as a mother. Let me tell you....Memphis and Birmingham are quite more intense at 3am when you have babies in tow. It was nerve racking and an emotional journey, but after 22 hours, we made it.
As we arrived at the hospital, I knew we had made the right decision to make the journey with the babies in tow. The smiles they brought to the faces in the ICU waiting room were priceless...but it didn't mask the real reason we had traveled such a great distance.
You may think that I was stupid or dumb or ignorant to make such a journey with two young babies in tow....but if those thoughts cross your mind, you didn't know my Uncle Tom. Uncle Tom aka Santa was truly an amazing man who brought a smile to everyone's face and laughter to everyone's heart. He was the kindest most easy going man you could ever meet. His greatest accomplishment in life was being Santa during the Christmas season to so many children who needed him. I saw him not only as my Uncle, or Santa, but someone who renewed my aunt and cousin Scotts life. Someone who gave them a new hope and upward look on a hurtful and painful past. Over the past 14 years, Uncle Tom gave so much to our family and his journey with us will never be forgotten.
It was a long and emotional week. It didn't hit me that he was gone until we were on our journey home and I looked at my two precious babies in the back seat who never got the chance to meet my favorite Santa. Christmas will never be the same for our family. But it will be a journey that we will have to know that God is there to comfort us and guide us. Uncle Tom had a wonderful journey here on this Earth and now he is with God and playing Santa for our the sweet children up there. My own children will here wonderful stories about their first journey to Florida to be with their amazing family as well as stories of my favorite Santa Clause.
As you continue your journey in life, whatever it may be, realize that everyone you meet...your are impacting. Also, if your journey begins to take a toll on your (because sometimes the journey's are long, hard or just overwhelming) never forget that God is there by your side to comfort you, hold your hand or just listen to you cry.
I love you Uncle Tom!!
Last Thursday, my Uncle Tom, suffered from a massive heart attack. We were not sure what the medical team would say quite yet, but we knew we needed to get down to Florida to see him and be with my Aunt and family. We weren't sure how we could get down there. With 3 month old babies, your life suddenly isn't the "pack up and go" lifestyle anymore....but that is what we did. I have driven/riden the "Florida Route" several times with my family, but this was my first time to make this journey as a mother. Let me tell you....Memphis and Birmingham are quite more intense at 3am when you have babies in tow. It was nerve racking and an emotional journey, but after 22 hours, we made it.
As we arrived at the hospital, I knew we had made the right decision to make the journey with the babies in tow. The smiles they brought to the faces in the ICU waiting room were priceless...but it didn't mask the real reason we had traveled such a great distance.
You may think that I was stupid or dumb or ignorant to make such a journey with two young babies in tow....but if those thoughts cross your mind, you didn't know my Uncle Tom. Uncle Tom aka Santa was truly an amazing man who brought a smile to everyone's face and laughter to everyone's heart. He was the kindest most easy going man you could ever meet. His greatest accomplishment in life was being Santa during the Christmas season to so many children who needed him. I saw him not only as my Uncle, or Santa, but someone who renewed my aunt and cousin Scotts life. Someone who gave them a new hope and upward look on a hurtful and painful past. Over the past 14 years, Uncle Tom gave so much to our family and his journey with us will never be forgotten.
It was a long and emotional week. It didn't hit me that he was gone until we were on our journey home and I looked at my two precious babies in the back seat who never got the chance to meet my favorite Santa. Christmas will never be the same for our family. But it will be a journey that we will have to know that God is there to comfort us and guide us. Uncle Tom had a wonderful journey here on this Earth and now he is with God and playing Santa for our the sweet children up there. My own children will here wonderful stories about their first journey to Florida to be with their amazing family as well as stories of my favorite Santa Clause.
As you continue your journey in life, whatever it may be, realize that everyone you meet...your are impacting. Also, if your journey begins to take a toll on your (because sometimes the journey's are long, hard or just overwhelming) never forget that God is there by your side to comfort you, hold your hand or just listen to you cry.
I love you Uncle Tom!!
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