I’m sitting in the waiting room at De Paul Hospital in St. Louis. My son Zach is having yet another procedure to place a graft in his arm. This will improve his quality of life by allowing him to do more of the basic things in life you and I take for granted like shower and swim. It will also allow him to get back on the mats from time to time and wrestle.
He’s lived for the past three years with tubes hanging out of his body as a result of renal failure. For those of you who don’t know Zach, his kidney’s shut down about three years ago and he is on dialysis awaiting the perfect donor organ.
Zach has been a real trooper. He has never complained about his situation. He has been one who rolls with the punches and takes life as it comes. Through the many surgeries, being poked and prodded, having to come off the road as a welder and find other employment – he’s been a great example of what it’s like to not feel sorry for yourself, but continue to live with hope in the future.
So as I am sitting here watching he and Chai play – both of them content as can be – I see my oldest son and Philippians 4:11-12 is ministering to my spirit:
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Paul learned the secret to contentment, and I’ll bet he had to endure much in order to reach this point. My guess is that he didn’t learn this secret by sitting back and watching life go by. I’m sure he didn’t disengage when the going got tough. I’ll assume when life began to get rough and things went opposite his plans, Paul did not just check out and wait until all was calm before stepping back into service.
No, I believe Paul learned the secret by rolling with the punches, taking life head on, and moving forward in full assurance of verse 13:
“I can do everything through Him (Christ) who gives me strength.”
My son is my example this morning – youth leading maturity. Perhaps in this one instance, he is the mature one.
May you find your strength in the Lord Jesus Christ, for through Him all things are possible!
God Bless!
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