Thoughts and a Health Update

Refugee by Malcolm Guite

"We think of him as safe beneath the steeple,
Or cozy in a crib beside the font,
But he is with a million displaced people
On the long road of weariness and want.
For even as we sing our final carol
His family is up and on that road,
Fleeing the wrath of someone else's quarrel,
Glancing behind and shouldering their load"

The Christmas scenes we have in our homes, our churches, our books are always peaceful, easy, tranquil. Our homes are a cascade of cozy Christmas images, glittery frosted cards and happy, holy families.

It is so easy to loose track of the truth. Or perhaps we don't even want to think about the rest of the scene or story.

But that is not the story. There is a hope and love that doesn't go away even as our decorations get saved for another year.

Is there something in your heart that the magic of Christmas didn't take away? A loneliness, the ache of missing a loved one, a new diagnosis, worry, physical pain, fear? I think it's possible to hope that Christmas will rescue us from any of that. But glitter, soft candle glow, twinkle lights, and yes, even Christmas sugar cookies won't change a thing. It is a surrender that will. A knowing that we can rest in his love that will never let us go and trust; simply trust.

Today I took Abigail to an orthopedic surgeon with an expertise in spine deformities. She was referred from her endocrinologist. (see sees an endocrinologist for low growth hormone and growth therapy - she receives an injection of growth hormone each night from us at home and is monitored by her endocrinologist) (that is a whole post I actually haven't done yet) Last month she noticed something in her exam. 

After an exam and x-rays he diagnosed her with a scoliosis and told us the treatment would be wearing a brace for three years each night when she sleeps to help correct the curvature of her spine. 

I know it is not life threatening. 

I also know there is no cure. 

Abigail is strong - but we are tired of her having to be strong. 

She deals daily with too much already: 

1. a digestive disease called eosinophilic esophagitis and a whole host of things that go along with this 

2. ADHD and perfectionism and anxiety all rolled up together 

3. allergies and anaphylactic to dairy 

4. low growth hormone - she will receive an injection of growth hormone until she stops growing 

and now this. 

But we trust. And we know that His plan, although not what I would order for my daughter is in His hands. So we can rest in that. 

So if your Christmas didn't take away the worry, the pain, the anxiety, the ache, the loneliness know that the story is not over. If you know any 'weariness and want,' the healing is not in the Christmas glow; it is in Him. Hold only on to Him. 

Photo Description: The stocking is filled to the brim on Christmas morning. A white box and red ribbon peeks out beneath the mantle greens and lights. Old letters spell out Christmastime Is Here on the hearth. Indeed it is.