Rescued

It occured to me tonight how often God has rescued us:
-a job loss became a paycut
-a potential family fallout became the strengthening of relationships
-two serious car accidents were injury-less
-major medical worries became minor medical worries

These were real rescues. I mean, begging God on my knees for interference rescues. This morning, I was facing decisions regarding Madeline's care that truly scared me. Diagnostic tests with formidable risks. Surgery. Or the alternative: a debilitating heart condition. I sobbed my way through the day, imagining my sweet little baby being poked, prodded, sedated. I called, emailed, and texted my support group, my friends and family that I knew would spend the day in prayer for us.  At 5:30, I got a call that in essence negated the initial suspicion of a heart defect. One phone call seemed to take away testing, surgery, recovery. 

But I know it was God. I know He rescues us.

To say we have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies is an understatement. We have experienced scares, heartaches, and humiliation, but we have also experienced mercy.

God has rescued us from the brink many times, yes, but He has also kept us so far away from the brink that we don't even know where or what the brink is. We have two beautiful, smart, sweet, mostly healthy girls. We have a strong, supportive extended family. We are committed to each other. 

My prayer this evening was one of thanksgiving, one of acknowledgment of what He has done for us. I am very grateful to God, for I know He is under no obligation to rescue us from earthly misfortune.

I don't believe it is any accident that I came across this quote today: "We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder and more open. . . . We always have this choice." (Pema Chodron)

It's not from the Bible, I know, but I think it jibes with biblical principles. When we face anything uncomfortable, regardless of whether we are eventually rescued, we need to expand our realms of empathy and understanding and extend it to others who are in those uncomfortable situations. For we all need rescuing, every one of us.