July 15, 2018

This summer has been a challenging one.  For our family vacation, Gary and I decided to take the kids to my home-town of Colorado Springs so they could experience the mountains and see where I grew up. Now that was a challenge first because my sweet Texan husband has altitude sickness.  We prepared for the trip and the doctor gave him some medicine that should allow him to become used to the altitude without feeling lousy. We gradually traveled up to Colorado Springs and all felt great.  I got to show the kids the park I played in as a kid and where I grew up – schools, church, first job, friends and family.  Day two of our vacation we went up to Seven Falls.  It is a set of spectacular water falls that are in the mountains above the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.  It can be quite a hike.  The scenery was spectacular.  I marveled at the hand of God and His splendid creation.  The kids were in awe.  As we hiked up the path, eventually we climbed stairs to get to a lookout point that all could enjoy.  At the base of the waterfalls, they had rocking chairs for those who chose not to go higher.  I sat down in the sunshine to enjoy the view and spend time with the Lord.  My husband and kids decided to ascend to the upper look out point for a better view.

I sat in the rocking chair and tried to pray.  My heart was restless, and my thoughts were not clear.  No, it was not the altitude (in case you were wondering) but more an inner voice that would not let merest.  I asked the Lord to show me in my heart what was holding me back.  I asked for peace to enjoy the moment.  I got up and moved the rocking chair for another view – as if my position to God’s creation would solve the restlessness of my heart.  Nope. I drank a bottle of water and had a protein bar.  Maybe my stomach was bothering my restless heart.  Nope.  I prayed again.  I got up and started to pace.  I briefly thought about ascending the next 224 steps up the side of the mountain to find my family.  As I started up the stairs, I saw my 8 year-old son, Jake, descending in a panic.  My 11 year-old daughter, Emily, had fallen at the top of the trails and was crying and bleeding and needed immediate help.

Momma bear kicked into motion.  I ran down the hill and had the gift store call for paramedics.  I grabbed bottles of water to wash her wounds and started up the stairs again.  Just then, I saw a very fit man descending the stairs with my daughter on his back and my husband following behind.  She was crying and dripping in blood.  I sent Jake off to meet the paramedics and bring them to our location.  This sweet man carried her down the stairs and put her down next to me.  The paramedics arrived and started to access the situation.  We were driven down the mountain and headed straight for the emergency room.  Two days of x-rays, orthopedic surgeons, stitches and tears later we learned that Emily had broken her growth plate across the bottom of her left ankle and chipped the tibia from the ankle, up.  We ended up with an orange and blue colored Denver Bronco cast and crutches.

We spent a day or two in the hotel before we decided we had all the fun we were going to have and headed back to Texas.  I couldn’t rest or breathe.  My husband took great care of us, and Emily chose joy despite the situation.  Don’t get me wrong, we cried with regret that the summer would be spent in a cast and that our plans had changed.  She was planning to get physically fit for track and field when the school year started.  Now, she was worried about passing her physical.

I came home and shared the ordeal with a friend.  She listened to me talk and then brought me back to the panic I must have been feeling as a parent.  I told her I tried not to think about that and how thankful I was that Emily was ok. This might sound crazy, but she told me to stop in the moment and feel it.  I started crying and cried for three days.

As I look back at the time, I was trying to pray on the mountain and couldn’t, I should have known that God was preparing me to kick into high gear.  He wasn’t denying me a sweet time in the sun with his beauty around me, but working inside my heart, body and mind to prepare me for what comes next.  As a mother, I felt helpless, and I hurt with my baby!  I had to be brave for doctors and stiches and casts.  I got to show my child that I loved her and was there with her through it all.  We got the best medical care each and every step of the way.  We tried to find things to make us giggle and even had the emergency medical staff talking about shoes to keep Emily giggling.

Emily resigned herself to a different plan for the summer and I took notes about her strength and resilience.  Oh sure, we have had tears in frustration, but we know God is in control and He loves his children.  Let me repeat, God loves His children.  He was with me before, during and after the event.  He prepared me emotionally to deal with the situation.  He was in each step of her care and in the strength of my husband.  He was in the doctors and nurses that encouraged her and in her sweet little brother that gave up driving her nuts for the remainder of the road trip. Miracle!

John 1:12  “But to all who have received him, who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

2 Corinthians 6:18  “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, say the Lord Almighty.”

God feels about His children the very strong way I feel about mine.  What a gift to understand the depth and width of His love.  He hurt for His children as I hurt for mine.  He never left me for a minute.  He caught every tear and gave wisdom and peace to those who needed His direction.  He is in each moment and rejoices over us in delight.

I have always told Emily that joy is a choice.  It doesn’t mean happy, but peace in knowing that God is in control and that He loves His children.  I have had to marvel at her mindset and praise my Heavenly Father for taking care of us in each and every moment.

Emily will be in a boot by the time school starts and able to run and train when the track season starts. She sees the hand of God in her protection and knows it could have been much worse.  Thank you, Lord, for loving your children and taking care of us in a very real way!

Kathy

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