Spring is in the Air!

 For more than three years now I’ve dealt with Chronic Sinusitis. I carry tissues with me everywhere because I am stuffy, runny and sneezy all of the time. This also makes me super susceptible to colds and sinus infections which require antibiotics. In addition to all of this I do not sleep well.

And I L.O.V.E. my sleep!

For the first couple of years I thought it was allergies and I treated it as such… until I went in for testing. After nearly 90 pokes and scratches and a chunk of money I found out that I’m not allergic to anything. A quick CT scan uncovered the actual nature of my problem in my sinuses and its ugly… really ugly.

Last month my doctor put me on Prednisone to see if it would help my condition. And, it did. My sinuses cleared up a lot and I could even smell things again. The last time I was able to smell anything was in September of last year. I became more rested and it was wonderful.

But, there was a trade-off.

The high dose of Prednisone affected my stomach and my head. I became grumpy and over-emotional. I gained weight. My face puffed up and as I neared the end of the prescription my face broke out terribly with acne. I didn’t have acne like this when I was a teenager!

After I completed the full dose of steroids I went for new CT scan to see if the swelling in my sinuses had reduced. And it had, but not nearly enough. My doctor said the best thing for me was to have surgery and right away. So, two weeks ago this last Friday that’s what I did.

It took me longer than I thought to recover. My nasal passages are still healing and I’m back to not sleeping well again, but I know it’s a process and things will gradually get better.

I tell you all of this because I have found myself in a bit of a rut.

Between the effects of the medication and the surgery I feel like I’ve slipped into a dark cave. My quiet time has suffered. And my desire to write has waned. I feel lonely and disconnected from God.

But, this weekend I noticed some transforming things…

The morning light seeping in from beneath the shutters of my bedroom windows a little earlier.

Slender, bright green grasses pushing their way up through the dull earthy ground reaching for the sun.

White, flowery puffs of beauty blooming on our plumb tree sending the promise of sweet summer fruit.

And the air gradually warming, luring me into short-sleeved shirts and flip-flops.

Spring is in the air!

As all of God’s scenery begins to come alive again I also notice an awakening in my heart. My dark cave is opening up and as I peer out into the blue sky I sense Him faithfully drawing me out. And just as the blooming flower unfolds to the warm sunshine I also respond to His irresistible call.

How lovely are the changing seasons of nature and even more so, the changing seasons in our lives. The moving away from something old and perhaps dark into something full with new life and refreshed in Him.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to 

every purpose under the heaven.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV