I first learned about Cooking Up Faith from my friend, Monica, over at Paper Bridges who nominated my family to become a “featured family”, which shows families in many different situations who need help from others.  “Big Fat Mama”, developed her Meal in the Mail feature when she decided to use her blog to help others.  Meals in the Mail can take on the form of restaurant gift cards, American Express gift certificates, or, even if you are not in a position to do any of that, your prayers for the Featured Family.

I look at some of the other families in the side bars, their situations, and I wonder, should we be here too?  There is the story of  Aviana, who was hit by a car resulting in a severe traumatic brain injury; and Logan who has a highly malignant form of brain cancer.  Children, whose parents are dealing with one of the most horrific crises parents can deal with.  For us, the tables are turned, for it is Grant and I who are ill, and I am grateful that it IS us. When Tyler broke his elbow earlier this week and then fell in the hospital, I hurt with him, I cried with him, as if it was me who had hurt herself.  If I had the choice I would take any illness upon myself before I would let it befall my child, and so, I can imagine a bit about what these parents must be going through.

I have this fear, maybe it’s stupid, but I don’t want Tyler to know how bad things are for us.  I don’t want Tyler to know that we are down to our last few thousand dollars and that we will be filing for bankruptcy soon.  I don’t want him to know why our phone rings 15 to 20 times a day and we don’t answer it.  My mother used to tell me that all she heard growing up in 1940s-50s’ Brooklyn from my grandmother was, “We are poor.”  “You can’t have that because we are poor.”  It’s a part of who she is now, I am sure, and I am hoping things turn around for us before I ever have to tell those words to Tyler.

I guess it’s not a contest on “Cooking Up Faith” to see who has it “the worst”.  But I think what BFM is doing here is a wonderful thing and if my family gets nothing from this, I think this is a blog worth seeing and a woman worth being blessed for what she is doing.

The times I have come to BFM’s blog I have read things that have comforted me.  BFM composed a “Letter From God” that is interspersed with scripture.  If you have ever read my blog you will know that I am not one to quote from scripture or speak about my faith, although I do have one, but some of what she wrote, along with the biblical quotes really spoke and comforted me and so I will leave you with just a couple:

You are a mother now. Your life will never be the same. You will have fears and anxiety that you never knew you would have.Don’t worry, “I am holding you by your right hand – I, the Lord your God – and I say to you, don’t be afraid; I am here to help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

You will wonder about your child’s future.Don’t worry. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”