Today's daily devotion

Take a U-Turn

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.—PHILIPPIANS 4:8 (NIV)

“Are you going to get ready to go out to dinner?” my husband, Jean-Claude, asks.

“I can’t go. You go without me,” I tell him.

“Are you sure?” I nod, but he says, “I’m not going without you. I’ll text our friends that you’re not feeling well. We’ll go out with them another time.”

Frequently we have to cancel plans at the last minute because I’m not doing well that day with my schizophrenia. Initially, Jean-Claude is disappointed. We’re both disappointed. But after a few minutes he’ll jump up and say, “Okay get your jammies on. We’re going to binge-watch one of the new TV series we’ve been waiting for.” We both race around the house, putting chips into bowls and cutting up melon or oranges. After we have our comfy clothes on, our plates and bowls of food, we meet in the bedroom, curl up on the bed and turn on the television. It isn’t a night out with friends, but it is fun and relaxing.

My illness keeps us from doing many things, but accepting detours and improvising help us to make the best of a hard situation and enjoy all the things we can do, especially together.