For Better or Worse, in Sickness and Health

When I stood at the altar and said these words to my husband I did not really know what they meant until this year. For both of us this has been the "worse and sickness" year. Together, Sewell and I have faced health issues. He has dealt with painful swelling in his hand from arthritis, constant pain in his joints, iritis (an eye infection) which we think was triggered by the antibiotics they put him on for the dog bite, and the injuries to his arm and leg from being attacked. After 5 weeks the wound in his leg still isn't healed. I have dealt with cancer and lymphedema.
We both lost a parent and we both lost jobs. I am still teaching but lost my coaching job through painful circumstances that were no fault of my own. Sewell just found out he is being transferred to another school which is about 15 minutes further away from where he is now. We loved having him just minutes away from our campus! It will be hard for him to leave the other three Assistant Principals that he worked so closely with these past 4 years and start over at a new school. He did not want to leave but the district can transfer AP's when they want. So, here we go again dealing with another loss. The move takes place June 16th and unfortunately I will be in El Salvador. I wanted to be here for the emotional support but I know God will still be here!

Sewell and I have clung to God and each other as our source of comfort and strength. Through all of it, our marriage and faith has grown. This was part of my devotional reading for the day, "You may scarcely realize the value of your present situation. If you are enduring great affliction right now, you are at the source of the strongest faith. God will teach you during those dark hours to have the most powerful bond to His throne you could ever know, if you will only submit. If you are afraid, simply look up and say, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." (Psalm 56:3) Then you will be able to thank God for his school of sorrow that became for you the school of faith." A. B. Simpson

Together Sewell and I have spent 55 years in schools helping others learn. This year, God took us back to His classroom and we are getting an invaluable education. The school of sorrow is not one most of us would enroll in but the longer you are there the more it turns into the school of faith. I believe what we learn here, we will be able to teach others. I have been afraid this year but I have chosen to put my trust in God. Even now I am thanking Him for this year of worse and sickness knowing that I must go through it to reach the better and health. When I get to the other side of all of this I know my faith will be better than ever and I will be enjoying greater health than I have ever experienced before.

Whenever trials come into your life just remember that God is taking you back to school to teach you something. His ministry here on earth was mostly about teaching the disciples and others Heavenly truths. It is no different for your life. Submit to what He wants to teach you and trust Him no matter how challenging and painful the lesson may be. Your education may be over in a few weeks, months or it may take years. I pray I am a fast learner!