Loving All the Many Days

By Linda Grupp Boutin

This year I must especially appreciate all the days the Lord has granted me. The challenges got revved up in January when my kidneys shut down. It took me by surprise that once again my body could revolt and not do what it needed to do to keep myself well. I should not have been taken unaware, I know all too well the hazards my digestion pose. But still, who wants to live life looking over your shoulder constantly. Checking that you are

Celebrating with creme brulee

replacing as much or more than all the fluids you lose. And watch out especially when the Crohn's cranks up and starts forcing fluids out of your digestion at lightning speed.

So yes, I enjoyed a January Sunday morning, shared lunch with my hubby at a restaurant, and spent 12 hours fighting the losing battle of staying hydrated. After the third bath and uncontrollable charley horses in my legs, back and feet, I relented and went to the ER. The next week disappeared while prayers combined with the skills of nurses and doctors to coax my kidneys back to doing their job. The following Sunday, after discharge and a bath in my own tub, Gary and I drove over to attend my nephew, Alex's, Eagle Scout Court of Honor. I rejoiced that the Lord allowed me out just in the nick of time to be there for him.

And 2013 has repeated the theme over and over to take better care of myself. With chronic illness, this takes both focus and consistency. The payoff is being able to do the things I want or need to do on my timetable. By July I felt well enough to celebrate my birthday with my brother Greg and his wife Donna. They brought us to a fabulous restaurant. We sat on the patio overlooking Orange County with the Pacific Ocean off in the distance.

Greg, Linda, Gary, Donna (left to right)

The meal was memorable, but the company and conversation stuck with me. There are special people in our lives that make such a big difference and for Gary and me, that is who Greg and Donna are. Their counsel over the years has helped us through many a difficult moment. They made it possible for us to live in our current home. Their steadfast support through fun and tears make life worth living.

So though this birthday adds one more year to a life now entering senior citizen status, I say love all your days. Appreciate the many things in life you might be tempted to take for granted. Be generous with your time when people need you. What you give comes back tenfold, so share what you have. As Jesus advised, love God and love your neighbor. Treat others like you want to be treated. And never forget to celebrate the wonders of life all around you. It is from this gratitude that contentment grows.