Suffering With Joy

A Real God-incidence

August 19, 2010

This has been a busy week which has included a 1 day trip in and out of St. Louis for my husband’s doctor appointment yesterday, so I have neglected my posting.  Although I’m really tired from yesterday, I wanted to write about a lovely experience I had this morning.

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are the times when I can get into the therapy pool at the rehab center.  There are a group of us “regulars” who come between the hours of 8:00 to 11:00 to do our various exercises.  It’s gotten to be an uplifting experience of support and encouragement for all of us who are so grateful for the chance to get moving with as little stress as possible.  We often speak of how much worse we feel if we miss our pool time.

Today we were blessed with a newcomer who, due to family schedules, usually comes once a week in the evening.  She is a pre-teen in a wheelchair whose mom brings her and helps her to exercise.  With all her obvious physical limitations, nothing is wrong with her mind or her spirit.  She is everything I love about young people and more – she has the innocence, purity, open-heartedness and joy of youth, yet with a wisdom beyond her years.  This child bears a great physical burden with grace and God, is cheerful and outgoing, and does not fail to inspire.

We spoke freely about our favorite Bible books and how life without God would be unbearable.  She mentioned how God tests us and proves us with our infirmities and how her sister encouraged her to visualize herself doing something she has wanted to do for some time.  The ability to look forward and set goals for herself regardless of the grave challenges she faces, and to do it without a trace of self-pity or hesitation is a gift others with far fewer infirmities would do well to seek.

The three of us, her mother, I, and the girl, agreed that our meeting was meant to be – a real God-incidence. I was pleased to tell of my great fortune of finding a natural health doctor in the area who also might be able to help her with certain aspects of her health conditions and happy that they both are also interested in holistic medicine.  We found we shopped at the same health food stores and chattered about how we dealt with our gluten sensitivities.

I don’t know if we will see each other again, but my takeaway from today is that if we are where we are supposed to be, doing what we are supposed to do, God will send us precious moments like these where He reveals Himself in unexpected ways. Please pray for this remarkable young lady who lights up the place wherever she goes.  She is truly one who suffers with joy.

Tags: God-incidence

4 Comments to A Real God-incidence

1. 

   Good advice! Sounds like that young lady has a heart of gold and faith like an ocean! I needed to hear those words of encouragement. Thanks for posting this. I can certainly believe that was a divinely scheduled meeting.

   Evan
Evan on August 22nd, 2010
2. 

   I know a young teenager with spina bifida who suffers tremendous pain all the time, but doesn’t talk about it. The only reason we know is because her mother tells us. She is a lesson to us all.
Kathleen@so much to say, so little time on August 22nd, 2010
3. 

   A beautiful story! It’s amazing that a child can be so wise and yet so young and I enjoyed hearing about it! I’ll keep her in my prayers. I ask my guardian angel to remind me of those I’ve promised to pray for and he does You are in my prayers, too.
Mary Nicewarner on September 5th, 2010
4. 

   Thanks so much, Mary. And you are in mine! It’s good to see you back in the blogosphere. I’ve missed you.
barb on September 6th, 2010