When the Noise Stops

Kaye and I have been blessed with two wonderful sons who have given us countless years of fun excitement and joy. I imagine most parents feel that way about their children and at the end of the day that is how it should be. Parents beaming with pride in their children and how they have grown and matured into individuals who have their own lives and interests. As much as we beam with pride, we are also dinged with a touch of sadness when we see them leave the comfort and safety of their home to pursue higher education or to go out to see their friends. I continue to recall the words of my mother when she would tell me how much joy she gets when we would return home and how much it hurt to see us leave. I never knew that pain and would not give it much attention until this past year. Matt is now in his second year at college and Ryan is busy with his friends and interests and so the pain that my mother spoke of has now settled in with us. We look forward with great anticipation when we see plans for Matt to come home and Ryan to be with us. We enjoy our time together more than ever before because we try harder to pay more attention to their comments and jestures than we did when they were little and making all that noise in the house. Now I see that hte "noise" from running in and out of the house, that bickering over whose turn it was while playing a game, that playing on the play gym in the back yard was the sounds of life and now that the "noise" has stopped Kaye and I look for ways to fill in the void. We have made great progress this past year in dealing with my health and filling the void from where there is no more "noise". We are getting better at being a couple and finding common interests. Filling the gaps is something we work on everyday. We still have to find Ryan a college and Matt told us Thursday night he wants to pursue a double major which puts him on a seven year plan. Kaye and I realize the sound of the noise is being replaced by the sound of accomplishment in getting your children over the final hurdle and off into the world as prepared as possible.
The noise that has stopped will not be deafening to us. Kaye and I are preparing for a different noise and that is one of comfirmation of God's healing. I intent to share my story with everyone as I believe that I have experienced a miracle and I believe God wants that story told not for my benefit but for his. God does not allow obstacles to come into your life without a chance to learn and grow in his will. My obstacle was cancer. My chance to grow came over all of last year and my chance to learn came at a tremendous price. God provides learning experiences from big things in your life and small things but we are ever growing and learning just like our children. I believe the noise will crank up again but in a different way that will again show me and Kaye that God is in control and guides our paths.