For the past two months, my wife Eve and I have been in and out of the hospital with our daughter Sophia.
Two emergency room visits over this past week.
At age 5, she has been diagnosed with a generalized form of epilepsy.
She experiences regular seizures (both small and large), and we are working diligently with medical professions to best manage her condition.
We know we are not the only parents coping with this type of brain disorder in a child.
We also know everyone, at some point in his or her life, deals with issues that are personal and painful.
Some people may just be better at hiding their pain.
At these moments, nothing else matters.
When Sophia’s seizures started, I stopped worrying about so many things.
I didn’t think about my career.
I didn’t stress over my credit card debt.
I couldn’t tell you who was still singing on American Idol.
I had no idea who was in the NBA playoffs.
I couldn’t write a blog post to keep up with everyone else.
I had no interest in Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.
All the other family problems went silent.
The following quote says it all:
“When everyone is healthy a family has a million problems, when someone is sick there’s only one problem.”
When Nothing Else Matters
At times like these, I am thankfully reminded there are only three sources of strength I can lean on…
1. Faith
2. Family
3. Friends
The pain doesn’t go away, but going through life’s hurdles alone would be devastating.
My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.
(Psalm 119:28)
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I pray you have someone to lean on as well when nothing else matters.
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What has been your experience?
What advice do you have?
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Brent, thanks for sharing these most personal times with us. I’m am so sorry for all that Sophia and your family are going through.
I can really identify with your sentiments in this post. My mother died of cancer in 1987. I did not know the Lord at the time and it nearly destroyed me. The end result was a 6 year depression that only came to an end in 1993 when I received Christ as my Lord and Savior.
In September of 2008 my father was diagnosed with colon cancer and he died on New Years Day 2009. At the time I was serving on the board of our local home owner’s association. While useful in it’s purpose, I quickly came to see how trivial a lot of the issues we were dealing with were in light of my family’s crisis.
Knowing Christ and having the love and support of other Christian’s have made a huge difference in how I weathered this and other difficult times.
Praying for Sophia’s healing and for grace and mercy for your family,
Bobby
Thank you Bobby for sharing your story as well. You set a good example for me and for others. I’m thankful for our friendship.
Thanks for the update Brent, I will be praying for you, today actually! When I was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes about 2 years ago, I was devastated, and then I was layed off from my job a month later.God used that time in my life though to mature me in my faith in ways that never would have happened without that painful crucible. I look back now and I am so thankful for having the opportunity to have had my God come alongside of me and walk me through that time.
Just think about how passionate you are for the care of your daughter right now, how everything takes a back seat to ensuring that she is being helped. That is the same unquenchable love and care that the Father has for us. May the Lord continue to give you the strength to walk out this time and be a shelter for your family.
Thank you Chris for the kind note. I appreciate your friendship and words of encouragement.
Faith, Family and Friends. You nailed it. Take care of and nurture these 3 things and the rest becomes trivial. God Bless you and your Family, Faith and Friends my Brother.
Thank you Brother. I’m here for you as well.
Brent,
This story really pulled at my heart as a parent, and as a friend of yours. I felt that same way when my wife had serious complications in delivering our last child. Everything ended up well, and there appear to be no long term effects, but in those moments…whew. Even now it’s hard for me to think about. But it’s our faith that gets us through these times. I think the key is that we strengthen and shore up our faith now, so that we have good habits and the right mindset when trials come. Of course, we’re all subject to doubt and questions, especially in the heat of the moment. But faith and devotion help take some of the stresses and struggles and provide peace, even when your world is falling. Bless you, Brent for sharing this personal story, and for helping all of us to think about what’s really important in our lives. May God give you the strength and peace you and your family need.
Tim
Thank you Tim for the kind note. It means a lot to me. I like your advice about having good habits and the right mindset when trials come. Because the trials do indeed come. I’m thankful for your support and friendship.
Dearest Brother, My heart aches for you and your family. Nothing breaks us like watching the sorrows and pain that our children go through. “But God…” who desires to be in the equation promises to comfort us and calls us to comfort one another. I will be in prayer for your precious Sophia. Prayer is powerful; I am counting on our Mighty God to step in and “show-off” for Sophia.
1 Corinthians 1: 3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Thank you Dawn for your kind support and prayers. It is greatly appreciated.
Brent
Thanks for keeping us posted.
I know from our own experiences with our children that when they are suffering if there were any way that we could trade places with them we would.
I can only imagine how difficult it is for your family in dealing with what Sophia is going through. I am praying for her healing by whatever means he chooses.
I thought of you all this morning when I was reading in Romans 8:28-39. Specifically verse 28: “And we know that IN all things God works for the good of those who love him” and verse 37: “No, IN all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”. That is not to say that God ordained pain and suffering for us. Pain and suffering happens because, for now, we live in a fallen world. Jesus, in talking with his disciples, said in John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that IN me you may have peace”.
(Though, for now, you may not have it every moment) “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. Through His life in us, and his grace for us, we will overcome. I am gratefull for Pauls words from his experience when he writes in I Corinthians 10:13: And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it”.
Love, Tom
Thank you brother Tom for sharing these words of wisdom. These are great verses for all times and you always have good insight to share with me and others. Thanks for making a difference!
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