God's love and sick little boys

Lots of tears around here lately. Today the happy kind. 

Last night Caleb, our 8 year old, had an asthma attack. It’s been building for weeks - the cold that he never shook, the cough that kept getting tighter and harder, the sleepless nights hacking and restless. Last night was the worst. We were up almost all night giving drugs and draping towels over steaming bowls of water and essential oils. Medicine on the chest, a nebulizer borrowed from our teammate. Nothing helped. It was a long, dark night. 

This morning, before we even had electricity enough to do so, we sent out an email to the missionary medical staff in town. Within an hour, emails from two nurses and the doctor poured in, encouraging us with prayers and Scripture and medicine dosaging information and the promise of a hospital grade nebulizer and some strong medicine on a flight tomorrow. They dropped everything this morning to coordinate with the pilot and our supply buyer to take care of our little Caleb and to encourage his very frazzled and exhausted Mom and Dad. I felt so loved and cared for. I wept as I read all the emails and effort being expended for our son, for us. 

So this afternoon as I was reading my Bible and praying, I thanked the Lord for people that love us. People who pray for us in the States and support us financially so we can be here sweating in this jungle. People in town who work tirelessly to take care of our physical needs and literally keep us alive so we can one day present the Gospel to these people. 

And as I thanked the Lord for all those people who love us, clear as day He said, “That’s ME loving you. That’s how much I love you.” And I wept again as it hit me - all the love and care that so many people showed us today is God showing HIS love and care for us. He is always ready to help us, any hour, day or night. He provides exactly what we need, right when we need it. He is always there to encourage us that we are not alone - that He is here with us, cheering us on to finish the work that He has assigned us.