"I can't do this." I said it myself over and over while the shower water rained down over me. "Please God, I just can't do this." When I finally shut up long enough to listen to God speak the first thing that came into my head was, But I can.
Months of lack of sleep, zero exercise, and bad hospital food will put a person in this mindset. (Hospitals, you are a hospital. Time to step up the healthier food choices that doesn't cost a fortune for the families who are now living there. I could write a whole piece on what families need while living in the hospital. But, one suggestion: underwear in the gift shop. Don't ask.) I can usually take the day head on. Like I tell my kids, "You've got this." But lately I feel like saying what one of my guys says, "No! I don't got this!"
I'm not the first person to cry out to God "Lord, save us." (Matthew 8:23-27), "Heal him, Lord." (Mark 5:21-43, John 4:43-54), "Take this cup from me." (Luke 22:42). Sometimes God chooses to stop the storm and to heal the child. And sometimes he takes us through the valley of the shadow of death before we see the beauty on the other side.
I've always wished God would tell me his plan. I'd like to know what lies ahead in this life story. But then, if I knew this hard road had been coming, dang, I'm glad I didn't see it coming. I'm glad God has his plan and he's got this.
I can't do this; be a wife, a mom, a nurse and keep my tears behind dry eyes. I had dreams of doing things in the medical field a lifetime ago. That didn't happen for reasons upon reasons. But here I am, working (and living) in the medical field every day. I didn't expect my patient would be my own child. Now that those long-lost dreams are alive and well in my everyday life all I can think of every moment is, "Please God, I can't do this."
But God reminds me He can.
My husband and I are parents of all boys. One of whom is a young adult with both physical and intellectual disabilities. I don't always know what I'm doing as I parent these guys. But what I do know is God is teaching me big things through our trials that I probably would have never learned without them. You can find more from me at www.mostlyeandme.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @stefmckeever.
