You know, sometimes we go day after day, week after week, year after year – and sometimes lose sight of what we are really doing. We always ‘know’ what is good and right, and that we want to please the Lord – but at times it becomes simply walking through the motions – and not intentionally!

The Lord brought me a little wake up call recently. A slight pain, nothing major – nothing to cause me to think the world was coming to an end. Our daughter had recently had some health issues and tests at Children’s, and I passed off my problems as maybe sympathy pains (don’t laugh, I truly believe God has given me symptoms like my children before so I know what’s bothering them).

I mentioned something to her doctor, but she being a pediatrician she said she really couldn’t help me. Alright, I’ll just do a little self diagnosis and treatment. Later in the week, my parents came over to help for the day, and seeing me lying around a lot – my mom mentioned how I didn’t look well and how I really needed to see a doctor.

I debated, but to make her happy – made an appt. Actually two, because I couldn’t decide which type of doctor to go to. Long story short, I did follow through with one of the appts., and came home w/ an antibiotic. Over the weekend, the pain ceased some, but never went away. By Monday, it was still the same, if not a little stronger.

A clear result from infection came back, which led the doc to order more bloodwork and ultrasounds. The ultrasound tech was quiet, but did do a mini question and answer session w/ me – and I wasn’t the one getting the answers, LOL! Maybe I should’ve bargained – one answer from me, one from her.

The next two days were LONG. Day 1 – I was told that my doctor wasn’t there, and another doctor wouldn’t release the results unless they were all clear – mine weren’t. Do you have ANY idea how many places your mind can go as a parent, knowing there is something wrong (not just from pain, but a test revealing something)?

Yes, these were two long days, but the Lord taught me a lot in them.

1) Acknowledge once again that HE is the Creator of my body. My life isn’t my own, but HIS.

2) Be grateful for the people He has placed in my life. Cherish each and every minute with them, for you never know when it will be your last.

3) Place yourself in His Hands. He knows my future, the reason He created me. He knew the day I would be born, and He knows the die I will die – even the exact minute and second. It’s not a surprise to Him.

One of my first fears was that I would have a disease that would have my life ended in a few months. Another was that I would lose a precious baby. And yet another was that I might never be able to have children ever again. Let’s just say I was brokenhearted over each and every one of these.

How often do we really stop and think about life from this perspective – that it could end soon? I knew it could, but when you face it so closely, wow! What would my husband do without me? How would my children handle it? How could I teach them about the Lord through whatever might come, drawing them TO Him in the midst of trial?

For all those that prayed and offered notes of kindness, thank you a million times over! I truly could feel God’s peace wrapping me once the arms of my husband had to leave for work. Yes, I sent him to work – poor thing!

While my results aren’t going to be the most fun, there were a LOT worse things that could’ve been. Praise the Lord He didn’t place those in my life at this time. From this moment on, am I faithfully serving Him – in my role as a wife, as a mother? How can I be a Godly wife, helpmeet to my husband – as well as a Godly example for my children to follow? How can I faithfully raise them to be SONbeams for Him – lights in this world of darkness?

There will be a few more new items in the future from Sonbeams because of this. Things that are important to me, things that I want to teach my children about the Lord, drawing them closer to Him. I can’t wait to let you in on some of them – as time allows me to work on them.

I was blessed already this morning as we began our ‘refocus’ on how God wants us to live – the Lord had my children’s hearts soaking up HIS truth like little sponges! What a wonderful blessing indeed to see the sincere desire to learn and ask questions, wanting to do what is right. Oh, the faith of little children!

So, my challenge to you as a parent is this – ask yourself how YOU would face the end of your life? Would the Lord be pleased as you stood before Him? Would there be things left undone/ unsaid to those closest to you? Have you shared the Lord with your children, would they have a firm foundation?

Just something to pray about,

Mrs. Candace

Email: Candace @ Sonbeams.com

Facebook: Sonbeams – Homeschool Preschool