Tempered Faith

How can I not go through this day without thinking about this very time one year ago?  At this time last year our lives were full of questions with very few answers and no guarantees.  We had no idea what was truly ahead of us in those coming days.  We had fear upon fear piling up.  The reality of Addie's diagnosis was literally right in front of us and coming whether we were prepared or not.  Honestly that day is a bit foggy. I went through the motions. I remember running some errands.  I remember I had to have a very honest conversation with my brand new secretary and try to explain what was about to happen and how I was going to try to work not knowing what we were really going to be facing day to day. I do remember that Camille and I met with our pastor. In that meeting Camille was much more forthcoming about what was truly happening. For me, I had shut down a bit.  I didn't really want to talk. I just wanted to retreat.  I didn't know anything else to do. It was this very night last year that I leaned hard on my faith.  And it was that faith, often being guided by encouraging words of friends, that pushed back.  It pushed me in a way that a good coach knows how to motivate a player.  I didn't know it at the time, but my faith was being forged and tempered. 

Simply put, without my faith that was held up and strengthen by so many with Camille leading the way, I would not be here looking back at the undeniable grace of God. 

It has been a long year.  It has been a very tough year.  It has been a stressful year.  It has been a very trying year.  But it has been a GOOD year.  Addie is well.  How can I not declare it anything less than good.  The year has been good because God is good.