Blue Skies and Rain

Over the past few days I have spent time thinking about how God has blessed me through my struggles. I have thought a great deal about the verses about God providing me with strength, comfort and peace right now. Yet I stumble into a day like yesterday and everything falls apart. It started a week ago when my two year old daughter Faith came to me saying "I eat the money." My ten year old son told me that there had been a penny on the floor but now it's gone. I asked Faith where she put the money and she replied, "In my mouf." I told her to show me where the penny was and she smiled, opened wide and with her chubby little finger she pointed into her mouth. So we waited for the penny. After a week with no sign of a penny I made an appointment with her pediatrician. It was difficult getting up for an early morning appointment because the night before we had spent the evening having family time at the ocean. I crawled out of bed and got myself ready, packed up everything I needed and then gingerly tip toed into Faith's room praying she awakes in a good mood. She picked her head up and smiled and I let out a sigh of relief. Then the demands of the morning began. I told her we had to go to the doctor to find the penny that she ate. She said, "No! I lost it!" I began to feel regret that I made the appointment. I questioned her, "Where did you loose it?" Pointing to the inside of her mouth she replied, "In my mouf." Pulling her pajama's off and taking a deep breath I told her we have to go find the penny that she lost in her mouth. Once Faith was ready we headed to the car leaving the sleepy boys to fend for themselves. We hopped onto the interstate and began our thirty minute drive to the base. Our music on the radio was interrupted with warnings that there had been an accident on the interstate closing both directions at the exit we use to get to the base. Then they continued telling about another accident that closed the exit that would have been my next option to go around to the other gate of the base. Well now what! My mind raced with maps in my head of different roads I had been on. There was only one road left that I could think of. Within a few miles I rounded a corner and there it was, all three lanes at a complete stop! My last option of getting to the base was blocked with traffic. I could see the over pass I would have used was blocked as well. At the last minute, not wanting to sit for the next several hours in traffic I swerved and exited at an exit I had only taken once before. All I could think is, "what have I just done? I have no idea where I am." Again maps began to surge through my mind. There was one road that I had never taken before that I thought would take me toward the base. Then I saw it. At least I thought I saw it. There were several cars turning there and I thought, "well, I guess I will follow those guys". So off I went. I followed the cars in front of me through several turns and without a bit of traffic ended up on base for the doctors appointment on time! I climb out of the car with my purse, the diaper bag and Faith who refused to walk because she has an owie on her foot. I pulled myself together and walked through the front door only to find two uniformed airmen that want to search my bag and check my ID. I stumbled and nearly dropped everything when I finally tossed the bag to the surprised women and said, "Here, why don't you hold it while you check it and I'll get my ID." I made it past the check point and headed to the pediatricians office. When I get there I introduce Faith and held out my ID for them to check. Without looking up two women sitting behind computers began to ask me questions. I am still not sure which one of them checked me in. I tucked my ID away and headed to the waiting room to fill out the paper work. Before I could get started the doctor came in and told me to head over to x-ray. I gathered everything up again and headed down the hall. I got checked in and hadn't even sat down when an airmen called out for Faith. He asked for my ID which I began to dig for. It wasn't there. Poof! It was gone. I used my son Alex's ID and my drivers licence to prove who I was. He graciously took the x-ray which showed she had already passed the penny. I left there and headed straight for Jason's office. I dumped my purse and diaper bag on the front seat of the car. I wasn't surprised to find that it still wasn't there and now my seat was filled with old Cheerios. I headed into the office to tell of my disappearing ID. Jason was wonderful about the whole thing. We headed over to get a letter from someone in the office saying it was confirmed lost and stating I needed a new one. Then headed to another office where I was issued a brand new ID. I was still pretty frazzled so Jason took me to lunch so I could chill out. I was able to avoid traffic while heading home because they had opened one side of the interstate. I dropped Faith off at home and headed to my physical therapy appointment. I was so tired and really didn't want to go. But I know that I need to get stronger and I can't give up. So I got back in the car and drove the same route I had earlier even though it took me way out of the way. I made it to my appointment and I got into the pool to do my exercises. Everything hurt after an hour of working out. I headed home in thick traffic and felt completely defeated. What a horrible day! Why can't anything go right? The day isn't even over. Now I have to go home in this exhausted state and feed five kids dinner and take them to church. How will I survive this? As I got onto the interstate it began to rain. Even though it was just a little rain it couldn't be described as a sprinkle. The drops were big and full as they hit the car like rocks. Then the rain came faster and heavier crashing down onto the car. I leaned forward and looked out of the windshield. I looked up and saw the most amazing blue sky. Yep the sky was completely blue with only a few little, fluffy white clouds off to the side. That's God for you. Even in the rain He shines. He brought me back to reality. The reality that when I feel lousy and I have been pelted with life's little annoyances all day He still shines in my life. If I look for Him, He's there. He will reveal himself at the most amazing times and sometimes it's when it is when you don't expect it. In the business of life and bad days remember that the sun can shine even when it rains!