Brenna has the flu!  I mentioned last week, this Arkansas Diamond Speech and Debate Tournament week – Ugh!

Brenna began preparing for this tournament all the way back in September, gearing up to these days of competition.  She had planned on competing in 4 events – including a duo interp with a partner.  Now not only is she not competing, but she feels like she has let down that partner.  On top of that, physically she feels awful, too.  When the doctor gave her the news he even said, “I was hoping it was strep throat – strep I can cure.”  As he left the room, Brenna broke down crying and asked “Why did God let this happen this week?!?”

I had a sudden flashback to being in a similar doctors office with Eric after his bike crash in 2011 when the doctor broke the news to him that he would not be able to do the 50 mile bike ride that he and Charissa had been training for months for.  Why?!? I truly believe that ‘all things work together for good’, but I also know that we will not always see the good from our earthly perspective.

As I tucked Brenna in bed last night, I told her that she is welcome to cry into her pillow, that God is able to handle her being mad at Him for a bit, but also to remember that as much as this flu is a disappointment we are thankful that it is not a life threatening illness.  The idea of ‘things could be worse’ is not to diminish the sadness she feels right now, but rather help her come through the sadness with a better perspective.  It reminds me of the old saying “I cried because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet”  Hard lessons to watch your 12 yr old learn, but I know Brenna will be stronger for it.

Life is hard, but God is good!