I’m home today, dutifully taking several different prescribed steroids. But I’m cleaning everything in sight, not resting. Steroids tend to do that.

Asthma is inconvenient and annoying, but not life-threatening as long as you take the meds. That seems to be how I’m wired. With several medical problems that are just plain aggravating.

I have no idea why the ER doctor mentioned scary diseases. Except that I think he was about twelve-years-old. When did doctors get so much YOUNGER than me? The attending doctor came in later and wisely explained that the elevated blood levels can happen with anyone, and they only ordered the cat scan because it was ACCOMPANIED with chest pain.

I wasn’t really afraid actually. I was laughing. But, truthfully, in retrospect, I think it was that mad, scary kind of laugh. But I’ve learned that I MUST keep my sense of humor or I won’t be able to function very well mothering three boys, navigating  Justin’s care and managing my own inconvenient health issues.

Now for the good stuff. Because, as a child of God, there is ALWAYS something good along with the difficult. Or because of the difficult. However you want to look at it. (Romans 8:28) Sometimes God lets us see what that “good” is. I got a glance yesterday and it was quite beautiful.

Community. Jeff and I strongly believe in the benefits of surrounding ourselves with our community of believers. Keeping our home opened and bustling with chaos and fellowship and good meals and conversations over coffee and kids splashing in the pool and lots of prayer at my kitchen table. We don’t care much about stained carpets or broken back doors. We care about people.

And, in turn, people care about us.

We came home from the hospital to a wonderful, hot meal on the table. My kids had been fed, cared for and entertained all day. In fact, per our desires, my boys had no idea I was in the hospital. They think our friends surprised us with babysitting so we could have a “date.” (This was my invention, created in my mind and passed on by our friends. But I just don’t think my boys need any more stress right now. And, actually, it wasn’t REALLY a lie. We DID have a date. In the emergency room. A weird date. But we talked and laughed and shared some lousy cafeteria chicken noodle soup.)

I cannot express enough how grateful I am for our community of friends. We believe this is how God intended us to live.

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32

We simply can’t “do life” alone. It’s too hard and joyless without community alongside for the purpose of “bearing one another’s burdens.” (Galatians 6:2)

If this is something you’ve never experienced, well, our door is always open. Come and experience the “lovely of community.” A very special thank you to my friends who held down the fort so expertly while I took a pit stop in the ER to catch my breath. Literally. I love you. Grace be with you all.