Reasons to Stop Writing, or Bumps in the Road

I think the hardest thing about writing is getting back to writing after life throws you a curve ball. So many thoughts in my head to write about, but I can't seem to make myself write them down.

My curve ball was my husband getting injured and spending time out of work and  in the hospital this past summer.....

Definitely not a major deal compared to what so many people go through daily. But, it was a major deal for me.

When suddenly the strongest person in your life becomes the weakest person, things change. Priorities change. I found myself sitting in a hospital room. You know, the place where really old or really sick people go. Not us. But, there we were. And my husband was one the one lying in the bed. "Severe infection from injury," the doctor said. "He needs to be in the hospital on an IV."  All I knew was that he hadn't been able to walk or move out of bed for almost a week. And that's not like my Dan. If I can get him to sit still with me for more than a half hour, I feel lucky.

The first night he was on IVs the infection spread instead of receded. You could actually see it growing, covering his leg. And I cried. Helpless. My mind jumped ahead, "What if the antibiotics don't work?" "What if he loses his leg?", "What if he dies?"  "What will I do.?" I didn't want to worry him with my fears, but he and God are the ones that I always tell my fears to. I crawled into that little hospital bed with him at three in the morning, and he mustered up enough strength to put his arms around me and we cried out to God together. Because, really, what else do you do.

Life is suddenly put into perspective. You realize that one day, one hour, one minute can change your whole life. We were just at the river, playing with our kids like we do so often. Dan tripped and cut his knee on a rock. Not really a big deal -  an ER visit, and  a few stitches. That's all. But it wasn't all.  And now, here we were, lying in that hospital bed together. I have never seen him so sick before, ever.

There were blessings, as there are in every hardship life throws us. People, being Jesus on earth, were the main ones. They came to see us in that little room and helped us pass the long hours. They brought us food, books, and movies. They took wonderful care of our children while we were away. They prayed. When we finally got to come home, they were there cleaning our house so it would be ready for us, and dinner was in the crock pot. Blessings. God always brings blessings.

It was only a month long ordeal, though it seemed like a year. I thought of those that have "years" long ordeals. And my heart cries for them. And I want to be Jesus to them. I want to help be a little bit of the blessing that so many were for me.

I try to get back to writing. Suddenly things in my life are not quite so humorous. It's suddenly harder to sit down and stare at a blank screen. So I don't.

But, here it is Christmas. The time of year that Christ is renewed in our hearts. He came to make all things new. He's renewing me this Christmas. Reminding me of who He is, and why He came.

 I don't want to let the bumps in my road to become mountains that stop me. I want to be an overcomer.