Thankful for...CROHN'S?

Ali at Mayo Clinic soaking up some sun.

No one EVER wants their children to be sick. And we REALLY do not want them to be diagnosed with any chronic illnesses. 
BUT... when this DOES happen, how are we as parents - and as Christians - "supposed " to respond?
Of course, we PRAY! And pray some more. And we cry...and we wonder if it is due to something WE did or did NOT do. Did we expose them to something, feed or NOT feed them something, was it genetics...and the list of guilt laden pondering goes on.
In 2008, our oldest daughter was diagnosed with Crohn's disease - an inflammatory bowel disease that falls into that ever growing ugly category of Auto Immune Diseases. Honestly, we were saddened by the news - BUT - relieved to know that it was a CHRONIC illness that she can live with. We were so thankful that it was not a TERMINAL illness that would take her from us prematurely. *whew - thank you, God!*
It has not been an easy road. We have been to more doctors than we can count - from nutritionists,  to an M.D. who practices alternative and traditional medicines, to the internationally known "Godfather of IBD," and now to the famous Mayo Clinic...not to mention several other GI docs and even an infectious disease guy! Ali has been on numerous meds. Some working like miracle drugs for a while and others giving her reactions that required ER visits and even an ambulance ride to an overnight stay in the hospital on IV Benedryl. My little girl who was deathly afraid to get shots as a kid learned to give herself click-pen injections and tolerated her dad giving her regular needle injections. She has had more IVs than the most diligent blood donor and her sweet body reacts to almost ANYTHING they try to give her unless it is SLOW, slow, slow...and often in combination with a drug to counter a likely reaction. 
Now she is facing major surgery - and a HUGE lifestyle change as a result. Most people hear this news and offer pity. They are so sad for her. She, however, is rejoicing because - while she knows it will be a challenging adjustment - she is looking forward to, not only the freedom it will give her (especially from excruciating pain), but freedom to DO THINGS she has to think twice about now...and  often pass up entirely. The things that chokes me up as her mom and makes me immensely proud of her is that even in the midst of horrible tests that humiliate a person beyond belief, she is focusing on God's plan in all this. She is choosing to not miss out on how He wants to bless her and grow her and change her through all this. AND, she wants to use of all of it to GIVE BACK!
So...be careful when you tell a person that they need to pray harder to be healed. That they need to try this or that "a la naturelle" remedy because you know it cured someone's second cousin's third wife's step child's teacher's aide. Trust me - a parent with a chronically ill child probably knows more about their disease than they ever wanted to - and definitely more than a chiropractor or a vitamin/supplement company or some guru of the latest diet or fitness fads. As Christians, let's be careful not to become Job's friends and stifle what the Holy Spirit is doing in someone's life. Life is full of sacrifices and pain...and God uses those FOR.HIS.GLORY! Do we want to get in the way of that? Sometimes God speaks much louder through our pain and how we handle it than through healing or comfort or blessings of physical health.
Maybe we need to ask ourselves: Are we afraid or uncomfortable about coming alongside those who suffer in a way that validates their pain...praying for healing, but also praying for them to be able to embrace His plan in such a way that others see Christ in us? Are we okay with having nothing more to offer but agreeing that, humanly, this *sucks* {sorry - true}...but it is not outside His control? Whether He takes it away  - OR - leaves it for the rest of our lives...we can yield it for His purposes. He IS faithful to use it for good. That is a promise we can cling to!
Here is Ali's blog where she shares openly about her illness and her FULL life:
http://www.strikingawearness.com/blog.html
I believe God has already used her to bless others. And that is just the tip of this crazy iceberg. I know God has used her in all this to GROW ME!
Here is a wonderful article I read today: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/testimonies-not-yet-healed

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