Not More than I Could Handle

By Louise Rogers

Recently I reached a crossroads in my life. I was asked to take care of a one-year old girl in hospital for two days. Hospital was a new experience to me as I’ve been a farm girl all my life. To see a little baby with a drip in her arm, foot and leg, was really heartbreaking. I love children, and experienced intense emotions being surrounded by little ones in serious conditions – the parents stressed out and sleepless. It was a shock to my “perfect” little world.

At the time I saw it as a trial, and thought I was going through it all by myself. I realised I was being tested, but it seemed as if all the evil forces were against me, six days in a row.

At the same time I was missing my family who live a two-hour drive away – longing for their comfort, protection and love. Then my bosses went on vacation, leaving their three children largely in my care. Just the daily responsibility of getting them to school, making lunches and fetching them, feeding and bathing them can be overwhelming for a 21year-old girl. I found it emotionally draining at times. Then I faced a new fear. My back began to ache. I felt sure I had a kidney infection, which a visit to the doctor confirmed. And I had an important exam the next day! How could I face this? Was I alone?

During my trial I continuously prayed to God, asking Him to bless me, to be with me and to keep me from Satan. In between all the tears God kept a smile on my face. He has given me people in my life whom I love dearly, who’ve been there for me at the ring of the telephone. But at the same time God worked out something wonderful for me.

I’ve begun to influence so many more young people. Now I smile when I do my grocery shopping. People ask my why I’m so happy, but there’s no specific answer. It involves so much.

I love the church I belong to. We have a vibrant Young Adults ministry, beautiful music, and people who know that they sometimes sin. And we are willing to turn to Jesus and ask forgiveness when we do. We have our problems, but so do all Christians. It’s about how we handle problems, our attitude to them. And this is more important than our past, our education level, our success, failure or giftedness. We have a choice of attitude. Life is not only about what happens to us, but a great deal about  how we react to it.

I realise I have the same opportunities in life as a pop star or a role model. I’ve been trying most of my life to diet, and finally, I’m managing and it’s paying off. I find that restricting my food enables me to focus on God

God doesn’t expect us to know the whole Bible, but to focus on what’s important. Many of us go to seminars, retreats and Summer Educational Programmes, and God wants us to put into practice the knowledge we acquire. We want our churches to grow, but how will this happen if we’re not being real – practicing what we learn in our dealings with those out in the world or at home. We can be on “God’s High” at home too!

I feel blessed to have God in my life, and to have the people whom He has placed close to me.

Oh yes, I passed the exam, even with the burden of a kidney infection. God was with me all the way!

Louise Rogers attends the Durban (South Africa) church