"Is that everything that's going to happen in the next book?" The concept editor for my cozy mystery series, who happens to be my daughter, pointed to the short stack of notecards I'd set on the kitchen table.
I stared at the cards, more than a little ashamed by my lack of preparation for our appointment. We'd scheduled our meeting to hash out the plot of this book almost a year before. In the meantime, my mother's health had taken a turn for the worse. Her struggle had ushered in a season of uncertainty and change. I was becoming all too familiar with being unprepared and unfocused.
"Well," I said, "I know how the story starts, and I know how it's going to end. But I have no idea about what's happening in the middle."
My daughter nodded. "I understand. Now give me a few minutes to read through what's here."
While she read, my mind wandered to a September forty earlier when my husband and I found out we were going to become parents. We spent the next 8 months getting ready for our baby's arrival. We took childbirth classes, transformed the guest bedroom into a nursery, and bought a car suitable for a family of three. We purchased diapers and onesies and sleepers and more.
We did everything in our power to be ready for our baby's arrival. Even so, after he was born and his life-threatening condition was diagnosed, we felt totally unprepared to be his parents. We knew only two things: our son's life had begun and that it would end—perhaps far sooner than we hoped. As for what would happen in the middle, we had absolutely no idea.
That's the case for every parent whose child receives an unexpected diagnosis. We often don't like the story, but we are in it and we know what's happening. We also know that life—ours and our child's—will end at death. We may not like the ending and we don't know when it will come, but we know it's coming. As for what happens in the middle, we know very little.
Those of us who believe in Jesus know as little about the middle of our children's lives than any other parent. Our faith, however, provides several assurances as we muddle our way through.
We know that our Father loves children and invites them into His presence.
We know that His Son ministered first to the weak and the vulnerable wherever He went.
We know that the Holy Spirit knows the middle of every story and is with us to the end.
Photo credit: Ron Lach on Pexels.com.
"Mom." My daughter's voice broke into my thoughts. "Here's the next thing you need to do."
I looked at her, this daughter of mine whose story began when our son was six. When she was born, I couldn't see the middle of her story. I couldn't imagine a day when my daughter and I would be transforming a pile of notecards into the plot outline of a cozy mystery. Most of all, I couldn't fathom that God would use her to once again show me a truth I too often forget.
In the middle of our stories—whether they be short or long, happy or sad, comforting or frightening, familiar or unexpected—God sends people. He sends medical professionals, pastors, teachers, neighbors, family members, and strangers to guide us. When we take time to reflect and look back, we see His presence revealed through the people He sent. Including through our children, who He knew would enter the middle of our stories and change the course of our lives in marvelous and unimaginable ways.
We know the beginning of the story.
We know the God who knows the middle.
We can rest in Him until the story ends.
Jolene Philo is the author of several books for the caregivng community. She speaks at parenting and special needs conferences around the country. She's also the creator and host of the Different Dream website. Sharing Love Abundantly With Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities, which she co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman, was released in August of 2019 and is available at local bookstores, their bookstore website, and at Amazon. See Jane Run!, the first book in the West River cozy mystery series will be released in June of 2022.
