Unforeseen Blessings

March 5, 2017

Day 63: He Didn't Leave You:
"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you.  He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you." —Deuteronomy 31:8

The story that Anderson shares in day 63 is about a woman named Ginny who lost her husband after 50 years of marriage. She was completely devastated and just kept sobbing, "He left me. He left me. I can't believe that he left me." Brokenhearted beyond consolation, Ginny had to be put on 24 hour watch to be sure that she was eating and drinking. She had lost weight, was dehydrated, and wasn't sleeping. Deeply concerned for her health and safety, Dr. Anderson and Ginny's family admitted her to a rehab facility where she would be surrounded by "encouragement, love and comfort."  Luckily after three weeks of being in the facility Ginny found her will to live again.  She said, "You know Dr. Anderson, each day I have here on earth is a blessing. I also think that each day is granted to us for a reason. I know that each day brings me closer to Frank and Jesus."  For Ginny, the turning point came when she finally realized that "Frank hadn't left her; he'd only gone on before her."  That realization restored her will to live.

As I was reading I was thinking about my mother-in-law who also lost her husband after many years of marriage. I think it was 40.  She was, of course, deeply affected, but never to the point of having to be admitted to a facility for special care. I have a deep appreciate for my mother-in-law. When Kevin and I first got married and then again when we had our son Levi, she helped us out quite a bit financially. She and Dad bought us our first set of couches and our washer and dryer. When Levi was little, more than once she helped us pay for medical and dental care for our son. She and Dad did a good deal for us when we moved back to Arizona from California. We stayed with them through the summer and for the first few months of the school year until we found a house. My mother-in-law is an incredibly generous and open-minded person. I know it has not been easy for her to wrap her mind around the fact that our child is transgender. She and Levi used to spend a significant amount of time together as grandmother and granddaughter. I know she has had her own hopes for him, but she is willing to accept him for who he is and love him unconditionally. Who could ever want for more than that?  I figured that eventually she'd come around, but thought it might take her some time. I did not foresee such a quick response of openness and acceptance, though I had hoped for it. I have always believed my mother-in-law to be a loving, gracious woman, accepting of others even when she doesn't fully understand. When I married my husband I couldn't possibly have known how much his mother would mean to me. Her love for my child (her son's child) has been one of the greatest blessings of my life—unforeseen and most beautiful.

Day 64: The Joy of Serving:
Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies." Psalm 41:1-2

In Day 64's entry, Dr. Anderson shares how when he was young he was taunted by a boy whose family had more money than Anderson's family did. It wasn't until he was 10 and this boy came at him that he realized that his parents didn't have a lot of money. The boy stood in front of Anderson counting all of his "material assets" and I get the sense that even as a 10 year old Anderson knew that to be focused on possessions was not the way to a happy life. Though Anderson shares another story about how his medical school scholarship came with the obligation of "practicing medicine in a poor area of the country," which is what he wanted to do all along, the story of his youth is what captured my attention. My parents didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up. I was often in awe of the things that a few of my friends had and I wished that I could have those things too. I remember looking through the thick Sears catalogue at my friend's house at all the things she had circled that she wanted for Christmas, knowing full well that she would get most, if not all, of those things: the Barbie Dream House, the Barbie car and motorcycle, all the Barbie accessories... Barbie was a big deal back then.

It wasn't until I was older that I realized how not having those things had a positive effect on me. It forced me to use my imagination and creativity. I would spend hours in my room with old decks of cards, empty cereal and instant oatmeal boxes, coupons with pictures of food on them, scissors, tape, acorn tops, and other things that I found in nature completely immersed in the creative process of making my own Barbie doll furniture and accessories. Had I had everything given to me under the Christmas tree I may not have developed the problem solving skills that I have now or my love for crafting. I can still see my 7 to 10 year old self sitting on my bedroom floor figuring out the best way to make the drawers on my cardboard dresser slide in and out smoothly. I am grateful that I had that opportunity to explore, imagine, and create—an unforeseen blessing.