Today, Claire informed me during lunch that she thought one of the wires on her braces had come loose. Upon inspection…sure enough…a loose wire hanging out, poking her inside the cheek! Called the ortho office, closed on Friday but they have an “emergency” number to call outside of normal office hours. Hmmmm, doesn’t seem like an emergency but it is a wire poking my kid in the mouth. Ok, decided to call and looks like we will be able to get it fixed tomorrow. Not a big deal, right!?
Well, how come this little inconvenience tripped me up? I got to thinking about next year, when we will be living in Spain. We will be in a strange city far from home. What if something like this happens there? And then I start going down that “what if” road…
Usually, when I start strolling down that particular road, I break into an all out run! In my mind the loose ortho wire quickly morphs into something far more serious! Thankfully, however, I am married to just about the calmest man on the planet! Sometimes I get so baffled by the fact that hardly anything seems to get Eric worked up (unless University of Michigan is behind in a football game…ugh!)
He is wonderful about reminding me that such things are really not a big deal; that people have been figuring out how to solve such dilemmas for much of history; and most importantly that God has got our back! Eric has a way of putting his arms around me and reminding me to take a deep breath and leading me back off that “what if” pathway! What a gift!
Our family is in the midst of so many changes as we seek to follow where the Lord is leading. I will have to be on guard in these coming months to keep my eyes on Jesus and run into HIS arms when the waves of doubt and worry threaten to crash over my head! As we shed many layers of our comfort and security we will be forced to focus more fully on what brings everlasting comfort and security. We are entering into a season of trusting God in ways we haven’t really before! We are believing God is who He says He is…we are taking Him at His WORD:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells…The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:1-4, 7
Jen, Just bring a nail clippers with you to Spain. My ortho told me if you get in that situation and the office is closed just clip the wire off as close as you can with a finger nail clippers so that it stops poking them and get in to the office when you can. You can do this, you’re a mom, that makes you a certified nurse, ortho, maid, cook, dishwasher, hairdresser, couselor, teacher…you get the point right? Keep writing!
Love,
Connie
Thanks for the tip Connie! Good to know 🙂
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!I love that what if instead what a gift. I can’t tell you how many times a day I have that what if. And never ever thought to say what a gift. You both don’t know how much you are helping people ME through your blogging…I look forward to seeing these and being able to relate….Amazing work you both are doing.God Bless