Faithful

I survived week one in my third year of teaching 3rd graders! Having a 3 day weekend was very refreshing.

Saturday my Mom, Dad, sister (Kelly) and I went to Greenville to visit my Grandad. Every time I visit him it gets harder and harder to see him in his condition. He is in his 9th year having Parkinson's Disease. It is a very complicated disease. Luckily, the progression of his disease has been rather slow. He started off having tremors in his legs and hands. Now it is much more disabling. He can hardly do anything for himself. But when I see his situation, even though it is painful to see him, I see how big, detailed, and faithful the Lord is.

This man, my Gradad (Rev. Harry O. Ball), married a woman at a young age. Her name was Patricia. A few years later she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclorosis (or M.S.). This was at a time when doctors didn't know much about M.S. They didn't know whether or not it was contagious. People looked down upon my Grandmother because of her disease. Even so, my Grandad stayed with her. Soon, she became paralyzed in the legs, and eventually her entire body was paralyzed from the collar bone down. She could do nothing for herself. My Grandad had to turn her in the middle of the night (to avoid bed sores), had to cook for her, had to feed her, bather her, fix her hair, put on her clothes, the list goes on and on...What an amazing man of God to stay with the woman he loved and take care of every detail of her life. Even the things we cannot think of at the moment.

When my grandmother died at a firly young age, my grandad was suddenly diagnosed with Parkinsons. I think it was about 3 years later he re-married. His wife now is very active and strong. As his health continues to fail, she is there for him and helps him with every detail of his life. She has to do all the same things he had to do for my grandmother.

Isn't it amazing how God took my grandmother from this world to be with Him, which yes, was sad? But it was necessary. My grandad would not have been able to provide for her the way he had always done as his Parkinsons progressed. Then the Lord provided my grandad with a wife who is there to help him. His timing is perfect. When I see what He has done in my grandad's life, I think:

What a good God we have- one who provides for every detail of our life!

Anyway, that's what I have been thinking about since we saw him this weekend...Sorry this one was so long. For those of you who made it all the way through- I hope it blessed you- even just a little bit. :)