Recent weeks have presented our family with some great opportunities to share time together during the Christmas celebration.  We enjoyed some of our usual family traditions, and built some new memories as well.  One of the new memories was Raegan’s first Christmas at Nana’s house.  She is only two months old and did not know what all the fuss was about, but we were filled with joy having her here with us.

But the beautiful season had a few flaws as well—in the form of sickness.  Our house was not the only one afflicted with upset stomach and all the undesirable affects associated with it.  As if that were not enough, coughing, sneezing, and congestion presented its ugly self as well.  Then to top it off, the baby got sick.

Just before Gale and I left to visit family in North Georgia, little Raegan started wheezing and coughing.  After we left town we learned that she was struggling quite a bit breathing.  Her mother took her to the doctor for evaluation and treatment; she is a good mother and well capable of caring for her children, but Gale and I could not help but be concerned—maybe even a bit worried about her–since we were three hundred miles away from them on the other end of the state.

On our first night away as I tried to rest in the hotel room, my concern became extreme when my cell phone rang.  There is nothing unusual about a phone call, except that this call came in at three o’clock in the morning.  Because of my line of work it is not out of the ordinary for my phone to ring at that time of morning at home, but my employer knew I was away so I did not expect any calls from there.  That left lots of room for dark thoughts to begin to invade my mind in the split second between the time I heard the phone ring and when I answered it.

In moments of uncertainty it is comforting to know that we can trust God for every need of life.  Isaiah, one of the writers of the Old Testament, records these words of God:  “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  For I am the Lord, your God, Who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:10,13 New International Version).  When our minds are inclined to panic, we can find peace in the truth that He is there to help us.

After finally gaining enough composure to answer the phone, I heard a female voice on the other end.  It was not our daughter, but a telemarketer who was glad to inform me that I had been chosen to receive a free night’s stay at some location; to get the details all I had to do was press 1.  What a whirlwind of emotions!  That left me kind of mad that my rest had been interrupted, yet really happy that it was just some nonsense and not an emergency back at home.  With a simple click of the button I disconnected the call and tried to get my mind at ease.

It was a good and safe trip that we enjoyed, but the greatest joy was getting back to South Georgia and laying my eyes on that little girl.  Seeing that Raegan was doing much better was a gift from God that I am thankful for.