An UnClouded Day
Psalm 119:71
"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes."
We know that Paul was afflicted, but we don't have a clear definition of what exactly his affliction was; there's speculation that it was a sight issue, perhaps a walking hindrance. The point isn't to nail down what he was suffering from, but more about what he did in light of his suffering.
Angie is a mom with three children. Her days are filled with typical mom duties: laundry, cleaning, cooking, running errands and caring for her family. Her oldest, Abe, is entering the pubescent stage of a teen-aged boy. Temper tantrums and smelly feet are abundant as he struggles to figure out all the changes he's going through.
The middle child is her beautiful daughter Bonnie. Bonnie has developmental delays. Every day for Bonnie is different as her body changes from a child to an adult, but her mind will always be that of a toddler.
Then there's Clay. He is a thriving six year old with Cerebral Palsy.
Daily life for Angie is never dull. She wakes up each day with a completely new agenda that she doesn't even know what is until she wakes each child. Will Abe be happy and hungry before school or will a battle ensue as soon as his feet hit the floor? Clay is a happy guy in the morning. Angie's husband will typically wake him, bathe him and get Clay ready for the bus to take him to school and therapy. Breakfast starts early, as it takes Clay about an hour to get finished. Then there's Bonnie, she is Angie's joy. Each morning Bonnie is awakened with a song and she returns the joyful sounds with a wide-mouthed, toothy smile and a giggle. Bonnie's morning takes awhile as diapers need changed, possibly bedding too. Getting her into the bath, dressed and ready for breakfast is an ordeal for Angie as Bonnie weighs 114 pounds, but Angie wouldn't trade her mornings with Bonnie for anything.
Painting the picture of Angie's morning routine may seem daunting to some, but how would this compare to the routine morning that you might have with your family?
How do you cope when things don't go as scheduled? When a sick child needs to stay home from school but you have an important meeting, or plans for the day that will need to be changed? Maybe you are a single parent and juggling the changing needs of multiple children alone is breaking you down. Where can you find anyone to understand your struggles? Where can you find help?
To know Angie is to know Wonder Woman in real life. She is intelligent, and entertaining as her spirit is happy and her sense of humor contagious. But she doesn't "have it all together". She works on her attitude daily. She clings close to her Savior-her help and confidant. Angie cries in the shower. She yells at God and she wishes her circumstances might be different, but at the same time she is thankful. She knows that her afflictions are not permanent, nor are her children's. Angie has learned to savor the good moments, even if there is only one in the whole day, and to get through the bad moments because she is faithful. (Philippians 4:13) "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" is her mantra.
Angie carves out time to connect with God each morning. She knows she cannot go through her day without His guidance, help and love. No matter what, she knows he will carry her. At night, or at 3am when she finally lays down to sleep, she thanks Him for another day as Abe, Bonnie and Clay's mom.
Paul embraced his affliction and allowed it to humble him into a servant of God. He cried out to God, who changed his heart and equipped him to be one of the most successful witnesses for the Kingdom! Paul did not stop witnessing. He didn't let his "difference" or difficulty keep him from sharing the gospel with everyone he met. (11 Corinthians 12: 10) "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong."
Heavenly Father, I understand that situations that seem big to me may be nothing to someone else, but I thank you for allowing me to hand them over to you. Thank you for the constant gift of your presence. Please continue to groom me to be the person you have divinely planned for me to be. Thank you for the struggles and afflictions I have because they remind me to trust you, to rely on you and to come to you for guidance and instruction. They keep me humble before you and help me to have empathy that equips me to love on others that may be experiencing something similar. Please open the doors to allow me to share your grace with others. Thank you for redeeming me Lord! Thank you for loving me. Please allow me to let it overflow onto everyone I meet. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
