A Lot Happens in Three Years

Today is an easy day to give thanks for. Three years ago today was the day before God took me on an incredibly painful, beautiful, faith-stretching journey. Many of you reading this already know about my blood disorder I was diagnosed with, and it just so happens that it was exactly three years ago tomorrow that the doctor told me I didn't have enough platelets. I love looking back on that time, and on that journey. It was for sure not easy, and I felt like I missed out on a lot when I was sick and having to recover from numerous surgeries (remember, I'm that weird girl who got her spleen taken out twice!) As awful as it felt at times, it was all worth it to me, mostly because I got to experience God's deep love for me. Funny, huh? God's pretty smart like that, giving us hard times and making us end up being so thankful for it. I promise, I had my times of anger, of resentment, of feeling abandoned, of being selfish wishing everybody would feel sorry for me, and also angry because people felt sorry for me. That was a time I never thought would end, that I would somehow be sick forever. While the doctor did not promise me that I was cured after my (second) spleen was taken out, he did give me time. I don't know how much time, obviously, but I do know that I am trying my best to live every minute of my time as a healthy young adult to do things that I could not do if I were still sick. Shoot, it's part of the reason I'm HERE right now! Call me crazy, but as grateful as I am to be healthy right now, there are many times I have that yearning to go back to that time. It's not that I enjoyed being sick, but I did thoroughly enjoy the time I got to be so close to the Lord and depend on Him with everything I am. I try to do that still, but somehow it's easier when we have something wrong with us. The thing I love most about God is that He is always faithful, it just looks different for every person. Thank God for that, how boring would life be if God answered every prayer ever spoken the same way! Sadly, I'm still human, and I'm still just like the Israelites, forgetting to trust God in all of my new challenges. Then, as soon as He begins to answer it, I realize how foolish I was to ever doubt Him. Thank You, Lord, for never giving up on your children, especially in our times of pure human-ness. We won't ever be perfect, but thankfully we serve a GOD who always is!!