“Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalm 55:22 (NLT)
Wander
Early this summer our youngest grandson lost most of his small intestine due to an undetected diaphragmatic hernia. As a result, he now receives all his nutrition through a permanent central line which he is hooked up to for 16 hours a day.
Long tubing extends from his chest and stomach to a back pack which contains the life-sustaining liquid and his pump. Can you imagine what it’s like to try and keep up with a one year old who is constantly on the go while carrying the bag and attempting to keep the lines from becoming tangled on his feet and toys? It’s a challenging and honestly, exhausting endeavor. That is, until today!
For the very first time since his medical emergency, this remarkable little boy, with everything tucked in a little pack behind him, was able to just wander about with no more entanglement and no one constantly following after him. He has a new found freedom to now choose the direction he will go.
You know, as Christians, we can also find ourselves hooked on things that ensnarl and trip us up. When we are connected to anything, even good things, more than we are to our life-sustaining relationship with God, we can suddenly find ourselves at the end of our rope, feeling as if there’s no where left to go.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Hebrews 12:1-2a (NIV)
Trying to keep up in life with all the twists and turns is often challenging for me. You too? It’s easy to feel weighed down and held back by our weaknesses and worries. I think you’ll agree, we can feel just plain worn out. Until that is, Jesus! Jesus, who calls us to come to Him because His burden is light and He provides much needed rest.
Our grandson is truly a walking miracle! His life has forever changed but by God’s grace he’s learning to adapt one step at a time. In some ways it’s much the same for you and me. Through the miracle of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection we can answer Jesus’ call and step into new life with Him, the One who packs up our sins, frees us from their bondage, and teaches us the direction we should go and when we do? That my friends, is where we’ll find we’ve been forever changed, too.
We can learn so much from children
when it’s untamed hell they face;
tied to feeding tubes, bed-ridden,
they still offer love and grace
during dreadful moments while
the galling tubes are irrigated.
They will greet you with a smile,
not resenting, nay, nor irritated.
Can we match this? I think not;
we have too much grown-up ambition,
and therefore it seems we’ve not
capacity to laugh and listen
to the gentle angels’ stories
of how our trials become out glories.
Typing through tears Andrew. Thank you for sharing your gift with me once again. Our grandson has rarely lost his smile through everything he’s gone through! He sets the example we need to follow for sure!
what a good tie-in twixt your grandson and “the stuff” that trips us up.
Glad to hear that a better solution was found for him. 🙂
FMF21
Oh Cindy! What a lovely story. Walking miracle is correct. I can’t imagine what your family has gone through and what they have yet to endure. You are a blessing. You have a sweet family. I can see why. Look at mom and dad. You write so beautifully. Thank you for sharing.
Oh Jane, it has and is been such a journey! Still doesn’t seem real. God’s mercy and strength have gotten and continue to get us through. Thank you for your ever present kind words!