We took our tour of the NICU at Children's Hospital of New York on Friday. We learned how it will all go down. For example, upon birth Ira will immediately be taken to the "transition room" to be stabilized by a ventilator. After they ventilate Ira, I will get to go into the room to see him. Meanwhile, Laura has to stay behind and recover from the birthing process. Depending on how stable Ira is, I may or may not get to physically touch him. He will then be moved to the NICU floor where they will continually monitor him checking to see if he is a viable candidate for the surgery. They said that we should know within the first 48 hours if he is or not.
Walking the NICU was terrifying. Each bed was occupied by a helpless baby. And at some of the bed-sides were helpless looking parents. They looked tired, dejected and overwhelmed.
There is a popular chant in some churches in which the leader screams, "God is good!" and the response from the followers is, "All the time!" Forgive me if I have a hard time chanting that at the moment.
Walking the NICU was terrifying. Each bed was occupied by a helpless baby. And at some of the bed-sides were helpless looking parents. They looked tired, dejected and overwhelmed.
There is a popular chant in some churches in which the leader screams, "God is good!" and the response from the followers is, "All the time!" Forgive me if I have a hard time chanting that at the moment.
posted by jch at
3:38 PM
10 Comments:
It is going to be okey Joe, You will look back at these days and see that God was and is in control all the time and he loves you and little Ira more than we can all imagine. We are with you and Laura in thought and prayers. Every night my little girl and I ask God for little Ira and and for peace for you and Laura. I know many brothers and sisters are doing the same. Keep trusting God.
Joe,
You, Laura and your daughter are constantly in our prayers. Cannot imagine how hard this is on all of you. This is one of those times when it feels like you are walking alone, but we all know that you are being carried by the Lord. Hang on!
I echo the sentiments above Joe. Our little family prays for yours each evening before Erin goes to bed.
Praying for your family. Bless you all three on your journey to meet Ira.
Joe,
I've never liked the whole "God is good-All the time" chant. It's too trite for those who experience pain.
I've had one of my classes lifting you and Laura and Ira up in prayer and will continue to do so as April 28 approaches.
Joe,
I came across an insightful thought in the novel Angels and Demons today. The pope is talking to a confused young man in a time crisis and the man asks how can God be benevolent but also all knowing because if he is both he would never let trouble come to his people. The pope put it this way, If you had a child, you would want to protect him right? The man replied yes and then the pope said but you would let him ride his bike right. What if he falls and scrapes his knee? You will be there to pick him up. Joe, God may not always seem good but he for sure is always there to pick us up when we hurt. I know there is a hard road ahead but draw on the Lord for your strength, for yourself and for my sis, I know she needs you to be a rock. Love you guys.
That's what the family of God is here for...to go to Him on your behalf when you're not really feelin' it. We love y'all...and we're praying.
Joe, you know my neighbor Liz from across the street... I told her, several years ago, about Lydia's brand-new autism diagnosis. She was appropriately miserable on our behalf. Conscious of my role as a minister and her own secular Judaism, I mumbled my conclusion: "Oh, well, God is good." Liz replied, without missing a beat, "Most of the time." Her parents are Holocaust survivors, turns out, and she knows that our glib assertion of God's sweetness rings false in many ears. Doesn't mean God isn't there -- just that grace is blood-red, not pink, as Flannery O'Connor said.
While God may be good in some abstract sense, I believe there are some times when it is not possible to see how he is good in concrete situations. I also believe that in those times it is OK not to affirm God's goodness, but to shake our fists and ask "where are you, God"? I think those of us who are not in crisis should save our "God is good" sentiments for times of later reflection, and instead use the current time to cry with and shake fists with those who grieve. We cannot run prematurely from Good Friday to the Resurrection.
i don't even know you but have been so encouraged by your steadfast faith in reading your blog over the past few months...and even more encouraged by your honesty today...you don't need people to tell you it's alright or that they understand...you need people to weep with you and look up to heaven with a total loss for words right along with you...but knowing that in the midst of your groaning, the Holy Spirit is speaking for you...please know that this little family from Texas will be praying for your family and for a miracle...
"you give and take away, you give and take away.
my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be your
name"
those really are hard words when it doesn't always feel like God is good...but hopefully we can find rest in knowing that He will always be God.
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