AuburnChick's Adventures

I don’t know about you, but I sure was happy to bid adieu to 2017.

One year ago, I had no idea what the year had in store for me.

I had no idea that just twenty three days in, I’d find myself at the physical therapist’s office for the first of eight months’ worth of sessions.

I had no idea that a mere two hours later, on the same day, I’d find myself in the emergency room with the hubby as the patient this time and that we would spend a week in the ICU as medical professionals told us he was septic and needed a complicated surgery.

I had no idea that the Mr. and I would soon be listening to one of the top Crohn’s surgeons in the state tell us just how dire the Mr.’s health was.  The drive home from Jacksonville was filled with many tears.

I had no idea how dependent we would be on family and friends to fill in the gap with their prayers and provisions for other practical needs.

I had no idea how grueling my recovery process from my broken ankle would be and how many, many setbacks I would have – all of them so very discouraging and incredibly frustrating – and how much pain I’d have to endure.  Even the simplest tasks often felt overwhelming to complete.

I had no idea of the miracle that was in store for us as we found out that the Mr.’s health, despite great odds, was improving, and that he did not need to have the much-dreaded surgery.  The drive home from Jacksonville that day was filled with awe as we praised God for His healing touch.

I had no idea that my heart would soar to such great heights and then, mere days later, plummet to the lowest depths when I lost my precious Molly – and that the grief would still cut so deeply six months later.

I had no idea how fervently I would pray while my child was gone on his first deployment.  Being a military mom is a role that brings with it much joy and much worry.

I had no idea that I’d be facing another ankle surgery to remove hardware that I’d assumed would be a permanent part of my body since my injury the year before, and that the surgery would not be the piece of cake I’d thought it would be.

The year 2017 had so many lows, but it was rich in its blessings as well.

I had no idea how tangibly I would feel God’s arms surround me in the darkest of nights, when I came home from the hospital when the Mr. was admitted to the ICU, and I didn’t know if I would be getting a call from the nurse to give me news that his condition had worsened.  Although I shed many, many tears that week, I felt God’s peace as I navigated through the what if’s that ran rampant through my mind.

I had no idea that despite my physical challenges, I would complete every single race hosted by my virtual running club, the Hogwarts Running Club, and would also participate in a real-life 5k as well.  God was with me as I put one foot in front of the other as I covered each mile and babied my ankle afterward.

I had no idea how humbled I would become because of the hardships God would allow into my life and how much more empathetic I would become because of those experiences.

I had no idea that I would end the year with such new perspectives – for what’s important and not important – for the amount of pain I might have to face.  It’s funny how many things pale when compared to what I’ve already endured.

I am praying that 2018 will be a year of reprieve from the hard stuff of life.

I don’t expect the year to be completely void of challenges; however, I’m not afraid to ask God to put longer gaps between them so I can catch my breath a bit.

If the year turns out to be another doozy, I can say, with 100% certainty, that I will face the hard times with more strength because of my knowledge that God will be with me guiding me every step of the way.

Happy New Year to all of you!  I pray God’s blessings upon you and those you love.

Filed under: This-n-That |