Another Day, Another Faith Opportunity

My husband and I were attending a financial seminar the other evening (trying to learn how to prepare for our “golden years”), when I looked at my cell phone and found that I had missed a call from our daughter. You see, this is unusual because this daughter is living in Indonesia, teaching school at an international Christian school. We often schedule phone calls or Skype because there is a 13-hour time difference. So to receive a call at that time from her sent off an alarm to me. My cell phone doesn’t have international calling, so I couldn’t call her back.

A few moments later, I received a call from one of my sons. I thought, “Uh-oh! Something’s wrong.” I tried to catch his call but didn’t make it out of the meeting room in time. I immediately returned his call and found out that he had spoken with our daughter. Kristin was in excruciating pain and very sick. When she described her symptoms to Austin, he thought it sounded like she might be passing a kidney stone. (Believe it or not, he had passed his first kidney stone about three weeks earlier!) He gave her good advice and told her to head to the hospital to get some relief.

My heart sank to hear that she was hurting and that I couldn’t be there to help. I couldn’t even talk with her to offer comforting words. Then the panic set in. Will she be able to communicate with the medical personnel who probably don’t speak English? What about the cleanliness of the hospital? Is anybody with her to help? How will she get to the hospital? I don’t like that she is so very far away and I can’t do anything!!!!!

Bill and I stopped everything and sat in the car praying for God’s protection over Kristin and wisdom and compassion for anyone who would be caring for her. We asked Him to give her peace and relief from the horrible pain. We cried and we acknowledged that God loves and cares about her even more than we do and that she is in His hands. We called other family members and friends and petitioned their prayers on Kristin’s behalf. It was what we could do.

Have you ever felt helpless and inadequate to be the parent you want to be? How do you step beyond the need to intervene or feel that it’s up to you to “fix it” for your children?

God showed me (again) that night that I must “Cast all my cares upon Him, for He cares for me.” And I know without a doubt that He cares for my children, too. The lessons of faith continue, even when my kids don’t live under my roof. I’m thankful God is near during the learning process.

By the way, Kristin passed the stone and is recuperating well. Thank You, Lord!