Life is a gift, a marvelous, crazy, upside down madhouse at times, but a gift, nonetheless.

I remembered a visit to an ailing family in my church. The husband had had a series of heart attacks; his wife was insulin dependent, and had lost the use of her legs. He shared his story as I sat in the family's kitchen--

"It takes a lot of energy to get my weary bones out of bed every morning, but God's love compels me. After I stagger back from the toilet, it's time to get my bride ready for the day. (Mind you, she's seventy-six with multiple health issues.) I bathe and feed her, pinch those sweet plum cheeks, then administer her shots. In the afternoon, we're typically exhausted, so we'll take a long nap. Between four and five o'clock, I'll prepare supper, something simple in the electric frypan, while she reads to me from the newspaper in her animated way. On weekdays, we'll watch Jeopardy, holding hands on the couch. Am I blessed, or what?"

"Yes, you are," I replied, with new eyes of appreciation. "Tonight's on me. Enjoy the casserole."

As I left the humble home, I realized I had just seen God, and what a spectacular view I had been given.

when shadows fall
and sickness comes calling...
remember, God holds you.