May 1, 2023
Gail Jones ’83 Matthews
Retired Youth Pastor
The phone call came on a Sunday afternoon.
“Your daughter had a seizure during worship and was rushed to the hospital. You need to come”
I jumped into the car for the long drive from Atlanta to Lexington. This was the beginning of what we call “The summer of seizures”.
My husband and I temporarily moved in with our daughter and son in law to help care for her…and to protect our 3-year-old grandson from the terrifying sight of his mom’s multiple seizures a day.
It was a scary and confusing time for all of us. We spent the summer going from doctor to doctor trying to get to the bottom of her condition. The best they could do was to put her on medication that slowed the seizures down, but it also caused her to sleep all the time. Our beautiful, vibrant, talented 30-year-old daughter was completely unable to function by herself. We felt angry, helpless, and afraid and we found ourselves asking: “Is this going to be our new normal?”
At the height of this anxious time, I walked out on the back porch of our daughter’s home to find my husband weeping. We talked for a while, putting voice to our fears. Then, he went back to working on a construction project and I went for a walk. I spent that walk crying out to God for wisdom and clarity.
By the grace of God, it came through a phone call from a dear friend. She reminded me of God’s faithfulness and His love for our daughter. It was what I knew to be true, but, in that moment, I needed to be reminded that “Because of his great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness…therefore I will wait for him” (Lamentations 3:22-23.)
It was a turning point for me as a parent.
The situation with our daughter did not change immediately and would not change for another 2 years.
…But I changed in that moment, finally able to rest in the knowledge of His faithfulness.
Maybe you need to be reminded of this unchanging promise of God as well.
Great is His Faithfulness! Amen.