The sickest I have ever been in my life happened years back when I was staying at my grandparent’s house. My employer at that time had headquarters near my grandparents, so each time the boss summoned me to the office, I had much cherished grandparent visit. This was one of my most favorite traditions.

Each work trip also meant a lunch date with my faithful, and favorite co-workers. This particular lunch date we went to a fast food restaurant. This restaurant shall remain nameless, as they would not appreciate this advertising. (Sidenote: I need emphasize my deep deep love for runny cheese!!!. For anyone this grosses out, I hope we can still be friends).  This fateful day, I was first up to order from our group. Queue dramatic background music.  

I finished out the workday not knowing what was lurking around the corner. I was off to my grandparents for the night.  I had a lovely evening until I started feeling sick; very very sick.  I will spare the details. only to say I threw up every hour on the hour without fail. I suffered in silence throughout the night, not wanting to alarm anyone. (Mamas, let me be clear, the runny cheese was not worth it!)

The next morning, nothing was better. I still had my rental car to return, and plane to catch, but I was too sick to drive to the airport. The airport was 50 miles and multiple highways away. As if it were nothing, my country living grandparents sprang into 80-year-old action.  Time to trek to the big city. We arranged to return the rental closer to our country location, on our way to the international airport. My grandma drove my rental car with me in it.  My, nervous by nature, grandpa who didn’t own a cell phone, successfully tailed us from behind. We dropped off the rental, and then continued on to the airport together. My super hero grandparents brought me safely at the airport, but my journey was not done.  

I touched down safely in my hometown airport. Unbeknownst till later, I had lost 6 pounds in 12 hours, on a frame that had no extra weight to lose. Hubby was waiting outside and upon seeing me, he drove immediately to the Urgent Care. I was hooked up to an IV and was given 2 bags of fluids and nausea medication.

Mamas, I have never been sicker in my life! But this horrific bout with runny cheese food poisoning has oddly morphed into a treasured grandparent memory.  They didn’t hesitate to get out of their 80-year-old comfort zone. They leapt into action. When it really mattered, love trumped any trepidation. They had to rescue their granddaughter.

For the record, I have NOT been back to this restaurant since this incident over a decade ago.  Sadly, I also no longer have my grandma here on Earth either. But I do have this memory stored for safekeeping. I am living proof you can find the silver lining in any circumstance, and not just with amusing stories about runny cheese poisoning.  

Mamas, I challenge you to live your life this way. This is MY secret to stave off bitterness. Find the hidden good in ANY circumstance. The worse the circumstance, the harder it can be to find the silver lining.  If you let it, this practice will transform your memories and you outlook.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2

Mamas, what memories do you need to transform?