
Today it's my turn. You all remember how my life started. I helped my folks find their heartbeat after their other Dachshund went to rainbow bridge.
God had a hand in picking out the family I was to go to. I didn't know it yet but I was going to have a few health challenges. Our Heavenly Father knew he needed a family that was willing to pray without ceasing that I'd make it through some of what was coming my way. Enter stage right my Mom and Dad.
They don't say Hindsight's 20/20 for nothin' do they? My folks had been out of church for many years. Honestly they had no plans of going back. (That's too long of a story to get into today, LOL) This didn't mean they didn't believe in God or prayer....As I became more and more sick, Mom and Dad started praying more and more. Fast forward a couple of years, and a lot of prayers and my tummy issues are all over.
There's a bit of a respite in our frequent visits to the vets, until the folks notice an extreme decline in my vision. Off to the vets we go for another serious diagnosis of SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome) and a strong possibility of permanent, irreversible blindness.
Once again looking back I can see My Heavenly Father at work in my folks life. There were many tears, a lot of prayers, undeniable faith, (as they'd already seen Him heal my tummy) and finally a trip to the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolina's, Animal Eye Care Center. To be honest my diagnosis was rather grim, but Mom and Dad's faith was strong. I began an experimental treatment that along with prayer and dedicated care from my parents as well as my doctors restored part of my vision.
My point in going through all this is to say our God is faithful. He used me a sick pup to restore my parents love and faith in Him. There was never one time that Mom didn't blog about the miracles God did in my life. She's never had a problem in sharing what He did for me. Even all my doctors to this day say that me having my vision is truly a miracle.
I guess my going through my health problems was preparation for some of the challenges my Mom was going to experience. Sometimes it's a lot easier to have faith for others than it is to have faith for yourself.
Mom's health declined and declined a few more times. Being from strong NC country stock she put her shoulder to the wheel and kept on going, until she couldn't. Yups the old gal ended up housebound for a few years, but always prayed that things would get better. One day Mom prayed that if she could simply get her blood sugar lower and hit 150 lbs she'd go back to church.
You know what; God answered that prayer. God is good all the time...Mom's been going to church ever since.
We're not going to say there haven't been set backs, there have. We're also not going to say some days haven't been a struggle. They have. Mom has always been a bit of an anxious person, and after all her health issues she developed a depression problem as well. Not long after returning to church her social and general anxiety problems got the best of her and she went on medication to control these issues.
Our Father has a plan for all His children's lives and He will use whatever is necessary to bring His plans to fruition. I and my health issues were what was necessary in my family's life. I'm in I dare say, the best home for me as I have no tummy issues. I can see, and I'm very well taken care of. Mom has lost a ton of weight, she's reversed her Diabetes , her anxiety and depression are no longer an issue in her life and she walks 4 miles a day. So you see sometimes our hard times can bring us to our very best that we can be.
Psalm 30:5
weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
We all have been through hard times...It's a part of life isn't it? With everything we go through our question is, " Do we have anything left in our hearts/cups to offer someone else who may be going through something worse than we are"?
There's an inspirational story that we see on FB every now and then. Mom and I'd like to share it with you. Let us set the stage if we may, "You're in a crowd of people drinking a cup of coffee and someone from behind jostles your arm.

"Well because someone bumped into me, of course!"
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because, coffee was in the cup.
If tea had been in it, you would have spilled tea.
Whatever is inside the cup is what will come out.
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which will happen), whatever is inside of you will come out. It's easy to fake it until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves....what's in my cup?
When life gets tough, what spills over?
Joy, gratefulness, peace and humility?
Or anger, bitterness, harsh words and actions?
You choose!
We'll be the first to say, our cup hasn't always been filled with the fruits of His Holy Spirit, but Mom and I have a new prayer this year; Should someone, or something bump into us, our desire is for Jesus to spill out and touch others hearts.
Love,
Molly and my Mom