Suffering?

This week’s message at Church was nothing short of amazing. I love it when the sermon hits home and we’re blessed enough to have a Pastor who somehow always manages to “reach me” Sunday after Sunday. I can’t imagine how I would get through these times without that time to reflect and release, without that reminder of God’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice and the promise of more to come.

But I digress back to the specifics of the sermon…
He spoke of suffering (or should I say repeated the sentiment already expressed in the Bible). He enforced a truth that I already knew- God can use suffering for good. Maybe it is because suffering has become more of a reality to me lately but I keep hearing this thought-process on suffering over and over. Maybe I just need the reminder? In ancase, it is so true. I know our family has suffered greatly during the last 5 months and yet I am still seeing good emerging from all the pain.

Dad is continuing to work on his recovery at a skilled nursing facility. This place use to seem to me the saddest place on earth but now I see it differently. Watching Dad navigate his wheelchair down the hall (and finding myself overcome with happiness that he has that type of coordination now)- I found myself in a surreal situation. Here we were, walking through the dining room and my Mom was the belle of the ball. Everyone was so happy to see her and she in turn was pleased to see them. Now I knew what Mom was doing for Dad, being there day after day, but I had no idea what she had become to all these other suffering people. Mom is painfully shy and because she’s always been so focused on her immediate family, she never got “out” enough to make many deep or lasting friendships outside of ours. But she has that now. They love her, Dad LOVES her, and I LOVE her so much it hurts. How blessed I am to have been born to such wonderful parents and how blessed are those that come into contact with them. Their spirit, their kindness will always be something I admire and thank God for. Suffering? In some ways I would say Mom and Dad are thriving- just in different ways than one would expect.

Tomorrow I may need another reminder that suffering is not all bad- but today it feels pretty good to see what God works out for us. I can do (and my Parents can do) all things through Christ who strengthens me (and them).