The Way Things Used to Be

For the last several years, my husband, Tim, has lived with constant pain. Prior to his illness, our life together was very full. In addition to work, we traveled. We attended activities with large groups of people, like church on Sunday morning or concerts. We were definitely “go and do” types. Now our going and doing consists primarily of appointments with medical practitioners.

Recently we were able to host some friends for dinner in our home. There were six of us gathered around the table, the largest sized group Tim can tolerate these days. As I looked at the faces of our friends, I was so thankful for them, and for their willingness to join with me in prayer over Tim’s condition. I know how very blessed we are.

And yet there are some days when I just want things to be the way they were before illness, before restrictions and constraints, before the long list of don’ts and can’ts. I’d love to have dinner in a restaurant together, share a conversation that lasts longer than 15 minutes, take a trip. But then I pray over these feelings, and God reminds me that his plans for our lives keep us moving forward, never backward.