Cared For

This last week was a good one in a certain way. As a family we have been facing some struggles and needed some caring for. We got it, and in a way that we all admitted was just what we needed. Let me explain.

We had to travel as a family to the US for some meetings with our partner organizations. We were not looking forward to the kids missing school and unsure of what to do with them during the long days while we were both in our meetings. Our families stepped in and offered to be there with us to look after the kids for us. How this worked itself out was a real comfort to us.

It began with my mother-in-law, who used her frequent flier miles and flew in to the city we were to have our meetings in. She timed her flight to arrive around the same time as us, so we all met up in the airport and proceeded to our hotel together. We arrived a day early in order to get over jet lag and spend some time together. We spent the day shopping and eating meals out and generally just doing whatever we wanted to.

As our meetings began the next day, my m-i-l did a fantastic job of looking after the kids so we could concentrate on our work there. We did not need to worry at all. She did a great job of releasing that concern from us.

On Tuesday of that week she went with the kids to the airport to pick up my mom, sister and nephew, who were flying in to town (again on frequent flier tickets) to take over caring for our kids for the second half of the week. Later that night she went back home to return to work.

My mom, sister and nephew did a great job of taking charge of the kids and doing whatever needed to be done, including going way above and beyond by tracking down a missing package we needed to get a hold of to bring back to one of our colleagues here in India as well as doing several loads of laundry that we had not had time to take care of. The kids had a ball, and got to do lots of fun things with Grandma, their Aunt and their Cousin. Fun times were had by all, and once again, all done in a way that took the stress away from that part for us.

As we left on Friday to go to another city, my m-i-l happened to be going to that city for her work, so she once again timed her flight to arrive near ours. We spent a good part of the day Saturday shopping some more, eating family favorites and just being together. Sunday she helped bring my wife and kids to the airport too (while I was in a meeting again) and got them on their way home to India.

As we reflected on how all of this worked itself out, we realized they each of our family members had stepped in and done an extraordinary job in trying to help us in very real, practical ways, that demonstrated their love for us. They were selfless in making our needs their priority for the week. This made a remarkable difference in our week and in our ability to be a part of what we were there to do.

So here’s a word of deepest thanks to my m-i-l, my mom, my sister and my nephew. You touched our family in ways you likely don’t know, but we are so very thankful for that, and even more so, thankful for the families God made us a part of.