Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

As you can see, I've been noticeably absent from blogging for awhile here.  The last few weeks have been chock full of appointments at the doctor and dentist offices for the kids, the usual Tuesday run into town for Isabella's dance class and Selah and Arianna's rec class, ice skating, at the Iceoplex, my Wednesday morning Bible study, and just other errands and events that have popped up.  Finally, this week, things seem to be settling down a bit. Even the weather, which has been very hot up until last week (upper 80's, 90's, and even some in the 100's) is finally settling into fall.  It's been awhile since we've had overcast, misty, and cool, but today is exactly that and just lovely.  I'm sitting here with my americano with Trader Joe's soymilk creamer in it enjoying the slower pace.

One of the items occupying our time recently has been having Isabella, our oldest, seen by the Allergy and Asthma specialist that helped to finally track down Selah's chronic condition, bronchiectasis.  Isabella has also coughed for years off and on and had lots of sinus and allergy symptoms.  I always though, after talking with her pediatrician that most of her symptoms were from seasonal allergies because they would  be better and worse throughout the year and she didn't spike high fevers and have frequent "illnesses" like Selah.  Recently, Isabella's pediatrician diagnosed her as asthmatic, but this just didn't seem to be true to her symptoms and after trying asthma meds over the summer, it was obvious something else was still going on and it seemed too much like Selah's symptoms to ignore.  My hubby especially pushed me to make this appointment for Isabella, and am I ever glad he did.  Thankfully, Dr. Welch, the specialist, is a very thorough physician that doesn't look for easy answers, but rather looks for the true answer to what is really going on.  Consequently, he not only did allergy testing on Isabella (she is allergic to dust mites, which we are now managing with bed and pillow covers, frequent washing of bedding in hot water, etc.), but also had an X-ray done of her sinuses and a chest CT, as well.  It turns out that not only has she been living with a long-term sinus infection, which hopefully will be kicked by a longer-than-usual treatment with antibiotics, but she also seems to have bronchiectasis like her sister, Selah.  So, now we will travel a road that we have already been down before with tests for cystic fibrosis, other genetic disorders, probably a bronchoscopy, and visits to the pulmonologist.  Needless to say, this is not the news that we wanted to hear.  I would have been thrilled to just have it be a sinus infection, easily fixed with a round of antibiotics, rather than a chronic lung condiditon where the lung damage is irreversible.  Of course, as much as it doesn't help, all the same thoughts as before are flooding into my mind and even more so in some ways.  How can I have two children with the same chronic lung condition that has been previously diagnosed as an "unknown cause" in Selah?  How do I wrap my mind around that?  Is this due to genetics and a predisposition for lung problems that I passed on to my girls (I had many lung problems as a child, but grew out of it with no permanent damage)?  Was there an environmental factor involved from our last home that contributed to this?

As I was still reflecting on all of this, I was also going down to San Diego for a meeting of my Women of Vision group and was listening to the radio.  This song by Matt Redman called "Blessed Be Your Name" came on and it really spoke to me and brought me to tears.  There are circumstances in our lives that we can't change and it comes right down to our attitude and the choice we make in how we view that circumstance that determines our outlook on life.  Here are the lyrics.

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

No matter what sickness, disease, or difficulty that my children or I have or may have, I know that God does have plans for our lives and that He can use our pain, difficulties, and suffering for his good.  Sometimes I don't feel like that is true, but I know it is true.  Like it says in 

 Romans 8:28, " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  

When I arrived at my meeting that Saturday, I listened to Renee Stearns speak about the difference we can make in the lives of impoverished women and children around the world.  Renee is the wife of Rich Stearns, president of World Vision U.S.A., and what she had to say to us was not only inspiring, but also impactful when reflecting on the day to day suffering that goes on in the lives of individuals around the world.  Every 7 seconds, a child dies of hunger in the world.  1 in every 7 people in the world does not have access to clean water.  The lack of just50 cents for a bus ride might be the difference between life and death for a mother needing to get her sick child to a clinic that is far away from her remote village.  These and other statistics caused me to stop, re-evaluate, and be thankful for all that I do have.  My children, while having a chronic illness, are not only living fairly healthfully from day to day, but also have access to some of the best doctors and hospitals in the country.  An ambulance is only a phone call away.  And we are not living in destitute poverty.  I don't think that hardship and difficulty should ever be discounted, no matter where we live in the world.  I know that my family's sickness and problems are real and that they matter to God, but I also think it is good to understand one's blessings in the midst of hard times.  Choosing to reflect on my blessings instead of my difficulties keeps me thankful instead of depressed.  So, I'll take the road with bronchiectasis one day at a time, and by God's grace, my girls will live healthy, productive lives in spite of this challenge.