From my perspective, it’s been one tough month.

I should preface this by telling you that our little farm is my wife’s dream. But – news flash – dreams don’t always come true.

Recently, one of my son’s goats died while trying to give birth. We lost the baby, too. And then as if that wasn’t enough, the bill for the emergency trip to the vet was pretty steep.

Naturally, these things never seem to happen at a convenient time – and this was no different.

This all occurred on the weekend I had planned a special anniversary get-away for me and my wife. I had been pulling it together for months – bought the concert tickets, made the dinner and hotel reservations – arranged for every contingency. Or so I thought.

We got away, but had a difficult time enjoying ourselves. Sleepless for two days coupled with the sadness of losing a beloved family pet has a way of dampening an otherwise happy event.

“Troubles,” wrote Shakespeare, “come not as single spies…but in battalions!”

Indeed, that very same week, my truck broke down twice in three days and had to be towed both times. Needless to say, the dealer didn’t work on my truck for free — and I think they plate their parts with gold - or at least charge you like they do!

To top off our month, our spring break vacation saw my son undergo surgery to remove metal screws from a prior kneecap procedure. Two years earlier, doctors had rearranged his legs and moved things around to help improve his ability to walk. Over time, the screws began to hurt him more than they helped and were rubbing on his braces causing sore spots on his legs.

Isolated, any one of these situations is stressful. Taken in totality, they are downright exhausting! Let’s face it. Think about your own troubles. In weak moments, we even sometimes question our “luck” in life. Yet, when the clouds clear, we understand that periods of joy and grief are cyclical; if you’re down, you’ll soon be up – and if you’re up, brace yourself, because tough times are headed your way.

These tough moments don’t always appear in grand fashion – like in a painful surgery or a season of financial strife. Very often, they sneak up on you just as you’re thinking life is back to normal.

The other day, my wife took our son to the Department of Motor Vehicles to apply for a learner’s permit. This is a big deal. Our son was excited. We’re not so sure how this will happen given his disability, but he wants to do it and we want to support him.

When their turn came, my wife took him to the counter. The clerk was polite, but pointed, telling Kyle that he couldn’t have a permit without a medical clearance from our doctor.

Disappointed, they retreated to the car empty-handed. When my wife returned home after the long day, she said rather dejectedly to me:

“Every time I start thinking we are normal, something smacks me in the face.”

By “normal” she was referring to the standard, accepted definition: Conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern. Occurring naturally. - Merriam-Webster

The facts are, most troubles and issues in my life are normal, but I see them as something other than that. My car troubles or pet loss are, while unpleasant, are just part of regular living. Yet, I often see them as if I’m cursed!

Why is it that the very troubles of life we know will come, are what make us think we aren’t normal?

I wish I had no problems, more money and a car that didn’t breakdown. I wish my child could drive a car without hand controls or maybe just be able to drive at all. I wish he didn’t need surgeries and I hope he doesn’t need anymore. These “wishes” are prayers; they are my hopes and dreams. They keep me up at night. They keep me on my knees.

My prayers aren’t the same as my neighbor. They aren’t even all the same as those of my wife, but they are the things that make me who I am. But, don’t we all cling to our respective lives with our hopes and dreams serving as the glue that holds all the pieces together?

I find it ironic that no matter our current personal situation or our children’s abilities or disabilities – we all are struggling to make right that which is wrong.

This effort is universal.

And I would say it’s what makes us all very normal.