God is Working Even When You Don't See It!

Romans 8:28 AMP - And we know with great confidence that God who is deeply concerned about us causes all things to work together as a plan for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. So many women I know have stories of baking cookies with their mom or getting pedicures together on the weekends. Family vacations every year at the beach or lake. My best friend lives across the street from her mom and talks with her daily. I was never able to share similar stories about my mom. We were polar opposites in so many ways. I tend to be bold and to the point. She was quiet...kept to herself most often. She enjoyed crafts and painting things in her house, not a hobby that highlights any of my abilities! I love to entertain, the more the better! From outdoor movie nights to ugly Christmas sweater parties to themed birthday parties, I am happiest loving on friends and family to ensure everyone feels special. My mom enjoyed her privacy. As the years passed my resolve only strengthened on this topic. One day after a routine checkup with her family doctor, Mom was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and my opinion of her slowly began to change. Those who knew my mom found this diagnosis strange since she was teeny tiny. Typically type 2 diabetes has more to do with a person being overweight and not active. But, this revelation partially explained why my mom never wanted to do anything, she didn't feel well. Needless to say, Mom made changes to her diet and cut out some of her beloved sweets like cake and donuts. Regardless of her diet or medication her sugar levels were all over the map and so drastic. I couldn't understand why she refused to get a second opinion. I believe it was several years before her family doctor retired and my mom was forced to discuss her health with someone new. Come to find out Mom had been misdiagnosed. She was actually a type 1 diabetic. It's rare to be diagnosed with type 1 so late in life. That is something that typically is diagnosed in toddlers and younger children. Medications were adjusted requiring her to take two shots of slow acting insulin and two shots of fast acting insulin a day. Personally, I about faint every time I have to get a shot or have blood drawn. Needles and I don't get along. Can you imagine having to give yourself four shots a day so you could live? A new eating schedule was also implemented but her sugar was still all over the place. For those who have never experienced the drastic highs and lows of diabetes, a person suffers brain fog, severe headaches, exhaustion. Your body feels extremely heavy and at times you feel nauseous. This is how my mom felt on the daily. She felt the worst in the mornings oftentimes having sugar readings of 70 or lower. Though Mom's health was not in her favor it gave us a reason to check in with one another. Even though Mom and I were calling or texting more often, God wasn't done as we walked out this journey. I need to preface for those who don't know me, I am a serious animal lover. I currently have four dogs, two cats and a horse that I board at a beautiful farm half an hour away from my home. Two of my dogs are rescues along with my two cats and my horse. Before I share the next bit, I should also preface that Shaun no longer allows me to go to animal shelters, pet stores or adopt animals from friends. If I go in I'm coming out with an animal, simple as that. LOL When we first moved into our home in April of 2013 we only had 3 dogs. My husband Shaun and I have always loved to travel and do so multiple times a year. We would typically board our dogs the first few years but realized we would rather keep them home and have someone care for them there. We found Naomi, who is wonderful by the way. We have her stop by the house three to four times a day but she doesn't stay the night. In the summer of 2016, Shaun made the mistake of taking me into a pet store to kill time while waiting to watch a movie next door with my son, Landon. After lots of begging and texting adorable photos of this darling Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, I was blessed with the sweetest little boy. I potty-trained Charlie. I trained him on the Invisible Fence so he could run and play in the yard with the other dogs. This little puppy was so easy to love and care for. Toby, my alpha dog, allowed Charlie to actually chew on his bone. Any other dog would have been dead for such an attempt but they weren't Charlie. Charlie followed Toby everywhere. Toby taught Charlie how to play and not bite hard. Those of you who have had a puppy at one point or another understand how excruciatingly painful puppy teeth are!  The time came for our next trip. Though we loved and trusted Naomi, Charlie was too little. He needed to have the ability to be taken outside late at night and early in the morning. Here's where God set me up to really start working to repair my relationship with my mom. I was reluctant to ask my mom for help. I didn't want to stress her or my dad out when she didn't feel well and have to deal with the obligation of looking after a puppy and three other dogs. I kept getting that nagging voice in my head to ask her. A week or so went by as I mulled the idea over and finally asked. Mom was overjoyed to come stay with my dogs. I sometimes wonder if she liked my dogs more than she liked me. LOL. My mom fell in love with Charlie! So much so that I believe she was offended when we booked Naomi for our next trip. Mom began asking when our next trip was and requesting to come visit the dogs. Look at God! God did not heal our relationship overnight. There was a process that both my mom and I had to experience in order to grow. Mom and I began talking more and for the first time really, were able to discuss each other's interests and plans. Rather than us going our separate ways God used our current situations to bring us together and develop a meaningful relationship. She even asked me to accompany her at extended family gatherings on occasions. Mom and Dad began coming over more frequently for dinner and even attended one of my outdoor movie nights with friends. I remember for Christmas one year Shaun and I bought tickets to Shadowbox Holiday Hoopla and took my parents. Mom loved it! It was a great night to dress up a bit and have some laughs. We enjoyed it so much we did it again the following year. I can say my mom and I still had a long way to go but because of God, we were well on our way. God had to heal my heart in ways I didn't realize before I could open my heart to Him. I believe this is the case for so many people. The world is a crazy place, more so now than ever! People suffer from broken hearts, loneliness, fear of the unknown. Everyone deals with all those things at one time or another. God showed me who He is so that I could know who I am. Every day I wake up and am grateful. I may be grumpy about the weather or annoyed with Shaun for something silly but I'm always grateful to look back and see what God has brought me through. If this story speaks to you in any way, please drop a comment tell me about your story. I would love to hear your testimonies! Please share this blog with anyone you feel could use some encouragement that God is working on their behalf even if they don't see it. God Bless!