What We Couldn't Do...God Is So Good

Welcome to my Wednesday feature God is So Good. Here I will share stories - true and fiction, mine and others' - of the Lord's presence in the midst of trials, struggles, and difficulties.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33b

With a sick husband and a pregnant wife, there are certain things that are nearly impossible to accomplish. Since I was six months along with my daughter when Marc's brain tumor was discovered, this was certainly an issue for us. But, as is always the case, the Lord made a way for those things to get done.

There are some things I would rather not do, but I do them anyway. Sifting and cleaning the litter box is one of those things. I'd wager (if I were a betting woman) that you don't know a single person who looks forward to this task.

So, having to ask someone ELSE to do it for me was not something I relished. But it had to be done.

For the past five months, my husband had been cleaning the litter box (a job he hated even more than I did!), because of the possible risk of passing disease to our unborn child if I should come in contact with cat feces carrying the disease (toxoplasmosis info here). FYI - the risk was quite minor, but better safe than sorry, right? But now, since he was fresh out of brain surgery, this was not a possibility.

So we needed someone to clean up cat poop - for three months. Would YOU apply for that job?

Well, somebody did. Gladly. The lovely Val Fennema began her "litter box ministry" the very next day, and was an incredible encouragement to us during that time. If that isn't being the hands and feet of Christ, I'm not sure what is.

Talk about above and beyond the call of duty.

And this wasn't the only project that was suddenly out of our ability to accomplish. Another - less crucial but greatly appreciated - job, on the "no-no" list for us, got done thanks to a sister in Christ.

As soon as we found out our second child was a girl, we (okay - maybe I) started planning and pondering what her room would look like. After not too long, we'd chosen a look. Noah's Ark wallpaper border. "Sky/cloud" wallpaper above. Green paint below. And Marc got started. Made some decent progress even.

But then came a craniotomy. And, surprise of surprises, it was NOT recommended that EITHER of us be around paint fumes, ladders, or anything else of that nature. Not for anyone fresh out of brain surgery. Not for anyone in their third trimester of pregnancy. Not for either of us.

So we figured we'd let it go a while. It wasn't like our baby would NOTICE if the nursery wasn't fully prepared. In fact, she probably wouldn't even be in the nursery for the first month at least - I'd keep her in a bassinet next to me in the bedroom. And we were okay with that.

One of the only pix of the nursery I have, it seems

But our dear friend, and apparently our Heavenly Father, wasn't.

The sweet and wonderful Marilyn Leali recruited a professional painter friend of hers to finish up the job - for free.

It certainly wasn't a necessity, like that litter box thing, but it was absolutely a blessing to us in a time when blessings were ever-so cherished.

**

Two gifts from wonderful sisters in Christ. One requested; one volunteered. One necessary; one a "bonus." Both blessings from God. He is SO good!

Do you have a story you'd like to share about God's goodness in your struggles? Drop me an email and we can talk!

 
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength