A PRAYER OF FAITH

So it looks like I have faith on the mind and heart, huh?  This thought has been tossing around and around in my brain for a couple of weeks.

For you who read my blog regularly, you will remember three or so weeks ago I blogged that I was sick.  Again.  Ah.  I do grow weary of these things but realize there are worse things.

This time it was not appendicitis even though my doctor assured me the signs were typical appendicitis.  She, who is rarely wrong, gave me a large antibiotic shot directly in the vein (ouch), told me to not eat or drink in preparation for a possible emergency appendectomy and sent sent me directly for a CT scan.  After all that preparation, the CT scan was quickly reported to show everything normal.  Normal.  I can say the big shot did as my doctor said it would--"calmed things down".  I already had an appointment with my surgeon the next morning since my track record merits that.  He agreed there was something going on so ordered me a diagnostic laparoscopy to clip adhesions that were surely there and to take out my appendix so we would never wonder if it was that again.  The laparoscopy was planned for five days later.  That gave me little time to prep.  Granted, worrying and cooking and preparing for a surgery and recovery is not necessarily my friend but I do enjoy having a clean house beforehand.

I did find a little humor (or not) in the fact that when the anesthesia girl came in to talk prior to my surgery, she remarked that my husband looked so familiar...and that I did as well.  Well, she didn't look familiar to either of us.  She just continued on that we were SO familiar.  After exhausting all the possibilities, we all decided that we had twins everywhere.  It was when I was on the OR table feeling the effects of the fine medicine to make me sleep and she was upside down at my head as I looked up at her that she said, "I know where it was!  Here!  At your last surgery!"  I guess it was that fetching chapeau OR hat I was wearing that brought it to her remembrance.  Scary that she remembered and scary that it had only been a short time.

Fast forward to now, two weeks post op.  The surgeon said there were just as many adhesions to clip as last year and my appendix was layered with them so the surgery was the right choice.  My restriction period was officially over yesterday, however, I was told if I did anything that hurt to stop doing it.  Honestly, I have done things that hurt and I stopped so I'm not totally where I need to be yet.  The wise surgeon told me that with every surgery as I age, the bounce back is not nearly as quick and high as when one was younger.  That's totally the truth.  Take it from me.  And this was my third surgery with him in a year and a half so we have become friends.  He's a keeper....so smart and caring so if you need a good surgeon, call me.

As in the past, I mentally struggled.  Why do I do this?  The only thing I can think is that by golly, I'm just human.  It's hard to get my "human" out of the way of my faith some days.  I hate that.  I know God supplies.  I testify to that all the time but yet, I struggle.  I imagine God gets more weary of it than I do.

What I wanted to say, though, is this time when I finally got to the place where I could pray and BELIEVE that no matter what happened, God was working for my good and whatever happened, it would be fine, I had peace.  Peace.  As I was rolled into the operating room, I felt a calmness and knew it was a prayer of faith that had gotten that for me.  Turning everything over to the one who controls it all is all it takes....in sickness, in health, in trouble, in joy....you get it.  I got it, too.

Yes, it had only been a little over a year since my last surgery for this same condition and I will most likely have another.  Maybe it will be years down the road, maybe it will be next year.  Either way, I hope that I can remember to pray always that prayer of faith.  Maybe if I practice daily, that prayer will become easier for me.  Turning it ALL over to the one who can handle it....

Consider.....

BUT WHAT IF....

So this post title might seem familiar to my faithful blog readers.  It is not really a repeat of a prior one but one with a different "twist".

This afternoon The Girl send me a link to hear a song she heard that reminded her of thoughts I would like.  She was right.  I listened and related.  Big time.  The song was titled, "What If?" and the gist of it was what would we see if we only REALLY believed in the Lord and what He could, would, and will do.  It led me to this scripture.  Notice the mustard seed in the picture and how small it is....just sayin'.    It speaks volumes so I decided to share.

NOTHING shall be impossible unto you.  Consider.......

SLOW DOWN!

Can time please slow down?  Last week was The Grandbaby's first week of preschool.  Where did that little baby go?

Needless to say, she enjoyed every minute of preschool.  She shed no tears (can't say the same for The Girl), had no frowns as she headed in the first day, and is filled with anticipation of more school to come.

I thought you, my faithful blog readers, would enjoy some pictures documenting that day.

Mercy...how time flies!

TWO SO TRUE

This week I have spent a lot of time in medical facilities.  I won't go into the details but will say it's not been fun.

My doctor's office always has a free publication that is shared there.  It is published by someone local and has a few ads but a lot of fun "stories"-- some funny stories mixed with some inspiration.  I love it so much that I might call the number on it and commend the person who does the wonderful deed.

In this week's publication there were two things I thought my blog readers might enjoy.  One is funny but true.  The other is one that spoke to me in my situation right now.  We'll do the funny but true one first.

"You take away the looks, money, intelligence, charm and success and really, there's no real difference between me and George Clooney."     😀😀😀

"God manages perfectly, day and night, year in and year out, the movements of the stars, the wheeling of the planets, the staggering coordination of events that goes on the molecular level in order to hold things together.  There is no doubt that He can manage the timing of my days and weeks."  --Elisabeth Elliot       ☀☁☂🌓🌈


Consider.......

CONSTANTS

Webster's defines my noun usage of "constant" as "a situation or state of affairs that do not change".  Obviously as in most of my blog posts, I've had this on my mind lately.

Every time The Grandbaby comes to visit, you can be sure she will say immediately:

1.  Pway Pway Doh?   (Freshly made play doh with vintage cookie cutters.)

2.  Peppa Pig socks?  (I have them here and they have the rubber grippers on bottom.)

3.  Water?  (She only drinks meelk and water.  Imagine.)

4.  And of course, "Poppa"?  (Do you doubt it?  One of her best buddies for sure.)

As I was headed to Sunday School yesterday, my stomach began to hurt pretty badly.  Of course, with the slight pain in my lower right quadrant along with this pain, my thoughts went to the dreaded faulty intestines that I own and I began praying that this would not turn into yet another hospital event.  After the Sunday School assembly, I headed back home for some medicine then went back to church.  By the end of church I wasn't feeling so perky, but you regular blog readers know that my tolerance for pain is VERY high.  I did spent the afternoon in the recliner in pajamas, paying attention lest I would need the ER.  Thankfully for my pocketbook and my time, I did not.  The popular question is if I still have my appendix.  I do.  Of my dozen plus surgeries and after the one that was practical to take my appendix, the doctor said he did not take it.  His reason was that I had "one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel" and he had to be in and out very fast.  I actually thought that was a pretty good reason.  This morning finds me somewhat better in case you wondered.  It could have even been a dreaded kidney stone.  So many options.   Unfortunately, my ailments will remain constants.  

After church before we headed home, The Husband and I attended a funeral home visitation for a sweet mother who had become widowed at an early age in her marriage and left with three young children.  That was years ago and those young children are not so young anymore.  What a successful mother she was!  I had always remembered her son who had been in the teenage Sunday School class I taught....yes, when I was young.  That tells you how long ago that was.  He is now in his mid-40's.  I can't tell you the blessing I received as we talked there and he proudly introduced me to his family.  I was so happy to see his success as a family man and in his career.  I remembered him as one who was always happy and while I tried to never have "pets" in my classes, he always made my heart soft and mushy just for being the young man he was.  I got the idea that after growing up and making a life, that young man as I knew him was still there.   A constant.  Yes, I was blessed.  

I began to think about other things that were "constants" in my own life.  I have a husband who loves me and cares for me, especially with my faulty intestine moments and all those other hard physical ailment moments.  I have a daughter, son-in-law, and grand baby who give me joy ongoing.  I am blessed with an extended family, a church family, and friends.  

The most wonderful constant in my life, though, remains my love for and relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Golly, where would I be without HIM?  He provides everything I need just in the nick of time and I am assured that He will continue to do so.  He allows the sun to rise each morning and set each night.  He gives me comfort when I'm sad and give me peace when I am fearful.  Most of all, He loves me in spite of my faults and so many failures.  Yes, HE is my true constant above all the others.  He NEVER changes!

It seems that each blog post lately is filled with gratitude.  This one is no exception.  For all the blessings, I say "thanks" a million times over and over again.  And then some more.

Consider......