WHY MAMA? {Why do bad things happen?}

Hailey in her sling

I am typically a person who builds margin into our lives.  But there are certain seasons that are just unavoidably busy.  That has been the case here.  So when I saw the long 4th of July weekend coming I- somewhat sadly- didn't make outside plans.  Although we always love the chance to celebrate with friends and family, this year we just needed a quiet day at home... or so I thought.

As Tom was manning the BBQ and I was soaking in the view-  of little ones running through the backyard with a kite-  I was really looking forward to the idea of having a quiet night.  Soon the little ones were hollering from the trampoline asking if I would jump with them.  "Sure!" Ready to earn the title of Mom of the Year- or at least the hour- I hopped onto the trampoline ready to play.

The girls and I jumped, sang and ran around until I had worked up a sweat.  But we were having so much fun none of us wanted to stop.  Hailey laid herself down on the mat of the trampoline and squealed, "Bounce me, Mama!"  And so I did.  Soon she was really bouncing.  She was sailing a full foot off the trampoline mat, maybe more, and was having a great time.  What I didn't see was her little head band slip from her head and her arm instinctively reach back for it.  What I did see in that next moment was a look of shock and fear cross her face that made me stop dead in my tracks.

I quickly found out that her little arm was hurt.  I have had no experience with broken bones- I  have all girls I am supposed to immune from this sort of thing, right?- but I knew this was broken.  I called to Tom and soon the three of us were headed to Urgent Care and then the ER. 

Goodbye quiet night at home. 

Hailey was amazing.  God gave her grace and self control even through the pain.  As I was driving the car to Urgent Care I called back:   "I am so sorry you are hurt Hailey."  To which she sweetly responded through her tears, "It's alwight.  It's ok." 
 
Like I said, I have no experience with breaks and so it came as a complete shock to me to hear that Hailey would need surgery, pins and then therapy to regain her mobility.  That was if the surgery was a success- this was a bad place for a break we were told- where the bone becomes thin and makes it like trying to balance two knife edges on top of each other according to one of the surgeons.

The next thing I knew I was staying the night in the hospital, checking Hailey's reflexes every hour to make sure that her artery wasn't pinched and blocking blood flow to her muscles- a condition that could have caused her arm to become permanently paralysed.  I found myself awake most of the night- alone with nothing to do but pray.  So, I prayed.  I am not sure why I needed to be up praying, but I guess I did.

As exhausting as it was, there were certainly things to be thankful for.  In ER I asked the Lord to show Himself with us and He did.  He provided protection, some of the most amazing people to help Hailey through what could have been so very difficult for a four year old (IV's, surgery, recovery etc.) and really the best possible experience for Hailey. 

We are so thankful for the faithful prayers of our dear family and friends. 

Once home, one of our girls came to me confused. 

Why, Mama?  Why did this happen to our Hailey? 

I wasn't sure I had the answer for her.  I told her we know that we can trust God to work things together for our good- although we may not know the whys at the moment. 

Soon it was time for us to gather for Bible.  And what was in the chapter that day- my comments added in parenthesis?:

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;

we are perplexed (we may wonder why), but not in despair,

we are persecuted, but not forsaken;

struck down, but not destroyed-
always carrying about in the body the dying of
the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus
also may be manifested in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Through our weakness, Christ is put on display.  Through being pressed; through persecution and perplexing situations Christ is manifested in us.  Weaknesses do not cripple the believer.  Instead- in the moment of pressing- we find strength in Christ.  Yes, we may be perplexed from time to time- even struck down.  But we do not need to despair or lose hope.  The Lord is with us and we can trust in Him. 


Blessings,