What CF Has Taught Me

Our journey with Walter's Cystic Fibrosis has certainly had its ups and downs.  There's a lot of negatives: the hospital stays, surgeries, worry, winter quarantine, time dedicated to treatments etc... but a lot of good has come from it too.

Top 10 Things CF Has Taught Me...

10.  We have the best family and friends anyone could ask for.  We could not have gotten through the past year without them!
  9.  We get to watch the Church in action.  Our local congregation has blessed us in so many ways: financially, with acts of service, and with just checking up on how we're doing and visiting in the hospital.
  8.  Chuck is a really awesome dad and husband.  Reading the CF blogs and message boards I'm a part of, many moms are doing this journey alone, whether their husband has actually left or is just mentally checked out and doesn't help with their child's care.
  7.  Walter is incredibly joyful and forgiving.  He's always smiling and flirting with his nurses even after they have just had to do a procedure he hates.  There's always mixed emotions from the staff when we check into the hospital.  "Its so great to see you guys! Except that you know, you're here..."
  6.   We can be an encouragement to others.  We try to see our time in the hospital as special avenue of witness.  My favorite thing about being there is the ability to bless the nurses, doctors, and therapists.  Whether its with a word of encouragement in friendly conversation or a small gift to show our appreciation, its fun to be able to bless them.
  5.  I appreciate the good times.  Since there's no gaurantee (really for any of us) how much time we have, I find myself stopping to savor the daily play times and cute things Walter does.  CF has helped me bring into focus how precious each of those moments are.
  4.  Live in the moment.  Its hard to do but so worth it!  When you never know when your next hospital stay will be, spending quality time together and planning fun outings on the weekend is so important. 
  3.  God will give you more than you can handle.  And its so freeing!  When you're forced to depend on Him you must give up the illusion of control in your own life.  (Unfortunately I still try to grab it back now and then.)
  2.  This world is not our home.  I've heard this many times growing up as a Christian, but with Walter's disease it has become something I finally understand.  Pain and disease the result of a fallen world and not part of God's design. No matter what we struggle with here, there will be a day when all the hurts are washed away.
  1.  We are called by God to be Walter's parents.  This may seem obvious, but we are so thankful that God trusted us to care for such a special little boy!  There have been some really scary times, but the good far, far outweighs the bad.  We'd never trade a minute of our life for anyone else's.