My dear husband has worked second shift on and off our entire marriage. We both prefer a first shift work schedule, but that hasn't always been possible. When he went to work for the hospital back in the fall of 2009, he started on second shift. And it was honestly THE hardest shift he had every worked. It often ended up being an 11-12 hour day with him typically arriving home around 3 am. He was always worn out and exhausted. We both looked forward to the day when it would be possible for him to move to day shift.
So 10 1/2 months ago when that day finally came, we were ecstatic! Everything was going to change. We had been looking forward to this for months!!! We had so many things planned now that he was on first shift again. He left excited for his first day on 1st shift, early that Monday May 16th morning.
That very morning I called Ali's doctor to ask him to fit her into his schedule so he could assess her for possible pneumonia. Just a few hours later, I packed up all the kids and headed to Ali's appointment where we found out that the real problem was that Ali's heart was twice the size it should be. She was in congestive heart failure, and it was a very real possibility that she was dying. In less than two days and despite every effort to save her, her heart gave out and we were forced to say goodbye to our precious Ali.
Suddenly everything HAD changed. But not at all how we had hoped or imagined. Suddenly we were forced to adjust to life without Ali which was far more drastic than a mere schedule change.
Looking back I can see that God's timing was perfect. The schedule change was really a great blessing as we walked through our grief, but it was still bittersweet. It reminded me that "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Prov 16:9 ESV
2 1/2 months ago Al had to move back once again to cover 2nd shift, and we have once again been looking forward to the day when he would be able to move back to first shift. But this time my joyful expectations were tempered by the memories of last May and the constant reminder that we do not know what tomorrow holds.
Today Al returned to first shift. Once again our lives are changing. I am not fearful or overwhelmed, but if I am honest there is a small part of me that is slightly uneasy. Thankfully I know that "that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 KJV
Jill
P.S. Thankfully everyone is healthy again. Anica was much improved the next morning after I called our family doctor. We have all been enjoying the unseasonably warm (and record breaking) weather here in Indiana. The temperatures were in the 80's last week!!!
Monday, March 26, 2012
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A good word to us all that we only have today. Blessings~
ReplyDeleteI too am often amazed by God's timing! The evening Lilly died, my husband had a dentist appt. so he left work early. He was home - just in time- to put Lilly down for her afternoon nap. If he hadn't been there, he would not have seen her alive that day. And, it was the day before his 2 week winter break from work started. It was good to have him home. And many people from the school he works at were able to come to the funeral. God really does take care of us in so many ways!
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