a bend in the road

A few weeks ago we were having trouble adjusting to the "new" normal.

That's what they call it,
according to the lady at the cancer support group.
And we get that.

The "new" normal.

You know,
or maybe you don't,
how you learn to adjust to what is now normal when living with cancer,
or another debilitating disease.

Seeing someone you love so much feeling constantly yucky,
worn out,
in pain,
needing medication to make it through a day.
Realizing that we shouldn't be taking for granted getting up each day and walking across our room unassisted.
Having something as simple as an appetite.
Or being able to go down the stairs on your own and throw in a load of laundry.
Or picking up your two year old, not just holding him on your lap, because you can't lift him.
Wondering if such and such place will be wheelchair or walker accessible.

But you do adjust.
You don't like it, but you adjust.
You take it for what it is and you pray,
all the time,
and you accept, sort of.
And you learn to cope.

Then you hit a rougher spot, (they call it a time of upheaval or crisis in the illness)
and everything feels upside down again.
Their pain is worse, their options seem not so great.
You just SEE them struggling with what should be normal life.
It just feels rough.
Bone wearying hard all of the sudden.
For whatever reason
and your coping abilities feel like they have run out.

And we're not the ones sick.

I don't know why some days seem harder and you feel more helpless.
But some days you just do.

We had a stretch of that a few weeks ago.
For various reasons we felt turned upside down again.
In the midst of it, we did what we do.

We prayed and cried, a lot.

And we did what, frankly, we don't do enough.

We talked.

and tried to sort through some bewildering feelings.

And prayed some more.

During this time of upheaval and trying to adjust to the "newest normal"
God sent several blessings and comforters our way,
in the form of friends, family, scripture and prayer.
And a special blessing, in the form of my mother in law, to help smooth the rough stretch.
She sent a very uplifting poem our way.
It was just what I needed.
Though it caused a new river of tears, these words calmed my troubled heart.

I hope it will uplift yours as well.

THE END OF THE ROAD IS BUT A BEND IN THE ROAD

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the "song had ended"
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,

Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying,
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying~

There's but one place to go and that is to God
And, dropping all pretense and pride,
We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side~

Together we stand at life's crossroads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision
And He tells us it's ONLY A BEND.

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the "pause in the song" is a "rest",
And the part that's unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best~

So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load,
Your work in not finished or ended,
You've just come to "A BEND IN THE ROAD".
Helen Steiner Rice

I'm thankful for this gentle reminder that God sees the bigger picture.
Really for me, it makes me see that God is the bigger picture.

We can adjust to what ever "new normal" brings,
with God by our side,
and our sweet Shauna's indomitable spirit and still sunshiny smile.

We continue to ask all of our dear Christian friends to keep praying for remission,
strength, and control of the pain.

Love to you all.
I pray your Lord's Day is Blessed with True Worship of Him
~Debbie