We never know when our lives will take a different road.

For many years I followed my carefully planned career path---entry level instructor...upper level teacher...education administrator...assistant principal. Sometimes the work was difficult and frustrating, but I persevered and finally became a principal.

I so enjoyed being a principal. Leading an incredible learning environment. Supporting teachers. Guiding paraprofessionals. Helping students in need. Working with the central office. Even handling tedious administrative duties. I loved it all.

In 2010 I was principal of an elementary school and had a wonderful staff. One day several came to share a growing concern, not about a student but their principal. They noticed I was forgetting things---instructions, directions, conversations. I didn't believe it was that bad. Everything is fine.

But everything wasn't fine. The problem continued. Knowing I seldom asked for help, a few contacted the central office. Soon our retiring and incoming Superintendents came to see me. It was a difficult meeting as their message was quite clear. I had to step down as principal.

I was in utter disbelief. What about the career path I'd chosen? The plan I had so carefully followed? In an instant, everything was tossed aside. All was lost. My dream over. After more than 27 years of working in public schools, I retired.

Angry and hurt, I and my husband, Carl, decided I should be tested. That would show them. But after the testing we discovered something was wrong, after all. I don't have short term memory. Could it be Alzheimer's? Dementia? My doctor referred me to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

After more tests, the verdict came. The doctors had never seen anything like this! No Alzheimer's or Dementia. The two halves of my brain were separating from each other. And no one knew why.

It's difficult to describe what I felt at that moment. How do you respond to something like that? But even in my pit of despair, I was blessed. Why? Because I have a Lord and Savior to give all my dark thoughts, emotions, and fears. And unlike me, He took them without complaint.

I would like to tell you that God rushed to my side and healed me. He was by my side, but later testing indicated more deterioration. Yet, by God's grace I am still living! Sure I have memory issues. But my organizational skills from all those years as teacher and principal have helped me.

I keep a calendar. Anything apart from the normal routine is written down. Then every night I mark off that day. So the next morning I know what day it is and if there is anything I need to do. And the result? I live each day. I may not remember yesterday, but I look forward to tomorrow. Maybe God has a message there.

We all have troubles in life. Many are not as bad as mine, many are far worse. But when troubles come, please take this to heart: GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME...even when we don't see the good at the moment. And I don't have to remember that. I know it.