Written by Guest Contributor, Jim Martin | August 21, 2025
I was driving in my car one afternoon with the radio on. I was listening to a talk show where a doctor was offering advice to those who called in. One guest called in and mentioned that she had not been able to sleep well for weeks, often staying awake thinking about a surgery her son was about to have. Her son suffered from a disability (unknown on the call), but one that needed the care of his mother for him to function daily. This surgery had all the hope of changing his life and allowing him to do things he once only dreamed of.
So why was the caller unable to sleep for weeks? The doctor probed and asked if maybe the mother was afraid that her son wouldn’t pull through the surgery. There was silence, and I waited to hear the mom cry and say yes, but with confidence, the mom said, “No, that’s not it.” The doctor probed more and asked if maybe the mother was afraid that the surgery wouldn’t work, and it would be devastating to her son. Again, there was silence, and I waited to hear the mom cry and say yes, but with confidence, the mom said once again, “No, that’s not it either.”
The doctor continued to inquire further, asking how long the mom had to care for her son and what responsibilities were required of her to tend to his daily needs. The caller shared she had been lovingly and tenderly caring for him every day for the past 15 years. The doctor then paused and asked the mother if she was afraid that the surgery would be a success and that, although her son would still love her, he wouldn’t need her the same way anymore. There was silence, and then the tears came.
There isn’t a parent reading this who wouldn’t want to see their child healed. This woman was no different. However, she grew comfortable and found her purpose in caring for her son. She was scared of what a new season of life would look like. We, too, find our comforts, and in time, some things are no longer ours to physically see daily. Perhaps a successful career is now in the past, a home full of family has now turned into an empty nest, or a loved one has been called home to be with the Lord. We might fear the new season ahead of us; however, these moments of discomfort are often exactly where God may give us something far more precious than we could ever imagine.
Bio:
Jim and his wife, Angi, live in Clearwater, Florida. This is a new season of life for Jim and Angi. They moved to Florida from Illinois in 2024, where they had spent their entire life. Jim enjoys working in enrollment management, helping students at the Christian Leaders Institute successfully launch their college degrees. He also works with Wela Connect, which helps people find joy, purpose, and generosity in their second half of life.
