Joy in the Journey

"Joy does come to those who suffer in a journey with Me. Not due to suffering itself, but the close intimacy with Me to which suffering drove you." I have set my google page so that each time I log onto the internet and it goes to my homepage, I get "reminders from God." They are always verses that have been paraphrased, and so many times seem to be just what I need that day. As it was today.

The last few weeks have been hectic and heart wrenching. Mike's Aunt Faye is starting on her 23rd day in Intensive Care. My heart aches to see her hurt, my heart breaks to see my mother in law in so much agony over her sister. These two women are some of the most Godly women I have in my life. They've taught me about strength, and perseverance, and love...and family.

The day before my wedding, I spent the night with Mike's parents so we could go and pick him up from the airport. I was stressed to say the least. Mike's mom was trying to keep my nerves under control, handing me a cup of decaffeinated hot tea. Aunt Faye was secretly passing me Andes Mints under the breakfast table. Mom was speaking softly, trying to calm my frazzled emotions. Aunt Faye would walk by and crack a joke...usually at the expense of one of her siblings and pop another piece of chocolate in my mouth.

6 days later, Mike "abandoned" me to go deer hunting with his cousins. He dropped me off at Edna's, the remaining living sister. The big problem was that I met Edna as we were walking in the door to her home at 6 a.m. Here I was, the newest member of the family, sitting around the kitchen table with women I didn't know. Pat and Faye weren't there yet. But within moments, I had been welcomed into the family of "Coulter Women" and these strangers soon became Nana, Aunt Deloris, and cousins Lynn, Lisa and Christy.

But it wasn't until Aunt Faye got there and saw me that I saw just how tight this family really was. A scheme was quickly cooked up between Faye and Deloris to "get Mike" when he came in for choosing to deer hunt during our honeymoon! Faye sent me next door to Christy's brother Scott to watch tv. Then these wonderful women proceeded to tell my groom that I was so hurt at being left behind that I had run off with another man! (I think Scott was 13 at the time!). It was then I knew that these were women I could count on in times of need.

In November, Mike and I will celebrate 23 years of marriage. In those years, I've learned that each of these women has a devious side to them. They also possess a love for their Lord that is unshakable. I watched them band together when their mother spent 77 days in the hospital before she went to heaven. I learned what faith was from them as Aunt Deloris fought her final battles on this earth after a liver transplant failed.

They held me up when I buried my dad, both of my grandfathers and my grandmother. Aunt Faye and Aunt Deloris both drove 3 hours to see me when I was in the hospital after having back surgery. Mom came from New Mexico a week before my surgery and stayed until I was out of Intensive Care. Never did I see their joy disappear. Their words to me were always the same. God will never give you something you can't handle WITH his help.

And what you become on the other side of the valley is a man/woman of character who is equipped to help someone else at a later date. I know that there are many who are part of this prayer chain who are suffering right now. Some physically, some spiritually. Take the words of a very wise woman to heart: Turn your eyes upward to Christ on top of the mountain and the valley suddenly won't seem so deep and wide.