Today I took Sage to the heart specialist. It had been six months since her PDA (Patent ductus arteriosus) surgery and it was time to check to see what was happening with the other holes in her heart. While waiting for the doc to come into the exam room, Sage crawled to a full-length mirror hanging on the wall and stood up looking into her reflection. I thought to myself, Look, she’s doing what “normal” babies do. I felt a sense of peace about that and smiled at God. The doc arrived, looked at her and said, “I can never forget her long, blonde eyelashes, and she’s gained weight, and is growing well.” Hmmm I thought, “Like a “normal” baby should. He completed the heart ultrasound while viewing the monitor and explained that the hole we had noticed from birth was continuing to get smaller and the valve issue looked liked it was almost completely resolved. That’s what they would “normally” expect, so there would be no need for follow-up for a couple of years. Leaving the pediatric unit, I again had that sense of peace and well… quietness. Again, I smiled at God and thanked Him.

Later in the afternoon, Sage played contentedly in the house, crawling from one toy to another -exploring them with total concentration. Once again, I thought it was like the play of a “normal” baby. Since Sage wasn’t clinging to me, Aspen wasn’t worried about sharing my attention, and she, too, was engrossed in her own play. I could clean up, sort mail, prepare dinner….be “normal”. It all felt so quiet and calm. Thank You, Lord, for what I am seeing happening here this afternoon, I thought. At dinner, Sage grasped the meat off her tray -choosing it amongst the other finger foods placed there. She was a “normal” kid, choosing to eat what she wanted, not what I was trying to get her to eat. Later, she nursed well and konked out, fast asleep in Momma’s arms. What a wonderfully “normal” day. A day I had looked forward to for over 15 months!

As I sat holding Sage, I couldn’t help but think of words that Paul expressed in 1 Timothy 2:2 about leading a “quiet and peaceable life.” Do those words apply to this instance or only to nations and authorities, I wondered. But then I began to reflect on the last year in our nation and the last year in the life of our family. Over a year ago, I had taped 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to my bathroom mirror as a reminder to pray for our country and leaders: Our nation has been in a state of much turmoil. People are worried, wondering about God’s purposes, pondering how best to handle their eroding finances, how much trust to give those in authority over them, how best to spend their limited time, how to proceed step-by-step into the future.

Tonight it occurred to me that our experience on a personal level was quite similar to that of many citizens of this country: Our family has been in a state of much turmoil since Sage’s birth, December 8, 2008. She came into the world full of life, love, and severe complications. We have experienced anxiety, wondering about God’s purposes, pondering how to handle major medical bills, how much trust to put in surgeons, hospitals, and social workers. We’ve watched our horses sit idle and our projects go by the wayside, due to the time that had to be invested making sure Sage got her full dose of breastmilk through the NG (nasogastric) tube each day, and we’ve questioned how to proceed step-by-step into the future. Together with our families, friends, and churches, we have spent much time united in prayer and supplication over the events of the last 15 months.

So at this moment, as I joyfully sit and ponder the end of this “normal” day, I am claiming 1 Timothy 2:1-2 as being directed to me from God. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” Thank you, Lord, for the peace and quiet in my heart and life today. God… I revere You!

–Kath

14 Comments Leave a comment »

Patti Anderson

March 15, 2010
12:52 pm

Kathy, Your article was so-o-o calming to me. I have been out of your loop for most of Sage’s life, but my heart, prayers and love are with you. Thankfully the article answere some of my heart questions and to how YOU are doing. The pictures are aboslutely beautiful, Love You, Patti

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- Kath
  
  March 15, 2010
  8:34 pm
  
  Photo credits go to Chelsea. I haven’t had enough “normal” days yet to get my photos in order, so she helped me out. Yes, there were some days spent in anguish this year, but I knew that “such is common to man.” I know you’ve spent your moments in anguish too, but the Word and the thoughts and prayers of the saints (cowgirl saints in our case :} ) pull us all through. Amen?!
  
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Robin K

March 15, 2010
1:19 pm

I almost started to cry! It’s so good to hear and know that Sage is doing so well and you are getting into a “normal” routine/lifestyle. What a great God we serve! I am excited to meet our new addition in 8 weeks or so and get my “normal” energy back. I forgot how draining the 3rd trimester can be. Kath, so good to hear you don’t have to see docs in a while! Much prayers and love sent your way :)
Robin

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charlotte

March 15, 2010
3:40 pm

With all the heartfelt comments, I am still waiting to see the “lark” story. Also, until you experience special, you never know what a blessing “normal” is – - – sweet, savory “normal” – - – the very word brings oxygen to my lungs.

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Eileen Davis

March 16, 2010
11:37 am

Kathy, so pleased you notifyed me regarding your blog ;-} Happy to hear the positive report from the doc! Precious pics of Sage. Yes, peace, calm and “normal” feel so wonderful and are such a blessing when you haven’t experienced them in a long while!

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Jackie Matthews

March 16, 2010
1:54 pm

Thank you for sharing and being transparent. Looking foreward
to what the Lord has in store for you and your whole family. Your delight is in the Lord. He will give you the desires of your heart.

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Jackie Matthews

March 16, 2010
1:57 pm

You delight in the Lord “He will give you the very desires of your heart.’
thanks for being transparent

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Gretel

March 16, 2010
4:09 pm

Praise the Lord. We have been waiting for this “normal” day, too. We (grandparents-Kleint) pray that there will be many more.

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charlotte

March 17, 2010
11:28 am

My mom wanted to remind us young mothers (since she is an “older woman”) that, although she knew what we were talking about and praised God for the health of our “special girls”, “normal” is just a setting on our washing machines.

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charlotte

March 17, 2010
11:43 am

I forgot to add to my previous comment that, being the young whelp and smart mouth that I am, I prefer to have my washing machine set on the “normal” than the “extra spin” cycle.

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Margaux

March 23, 2010
9:47 am

Kathy – Tears of joy come to my eyes just seeing the picture of Sage. Now with your beautiful story about Sage I am forever touched with tears of peace as well! I am so glad you were able to have a restful “normal’ day. Though, when I think of God’s miraculous intentions and hand in our lives, I imagine that all the normal or not-so-normal days are blessings in themselves because God is at home in the Whitney family!

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donna

April 9, 2010
3:02 pm

Kath, I had edited your story weeks ago but hadn’t had a chance to link to “Sage”. Now THAT was a real treat. What gorgeous hair! And as I saw your hands near her in both pictures, I reflected on the “hands of God” and how His will always encircle Sage and all of us. I read this in Isaiah 45: “It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands, and I ordained all their host.” The Whitneys have plenty of loving hands surrounding them!!

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