How quickly and easily life can change! It did for me 7 weeks ago. All it took was our pup’s four wet paws to make the tile floor slippery, and next minute I was seeing stars.
When I could eventually get up to sit in a chair, I suspected I’d broken my arm. I’ve had enough broken bones in my life to know how it feels. I hoped and prayed that wasn’t the case. That was before I looked down and saw the bone sticking out at a peculiar angle. Even then I thought perhaps it was just dislocated. Mick always tells me I am an optimist by nature.
Unable to move the arm much, Mick helped me dress. We went to the hospital and waited and waited. Both of us prayed it was not as bad as we suspected. More waiting for x rays, and still more waiting to see the doctor. All the time I kept thinking how much work I had to do and how I couldn’t afford to have a broken arm. I prayed it would not be broken, or that God would instantly heal it. Yes, I believe in praying impossible prayers. We have a God for whom nothing is impossible.
I’d already texted our family and asked them to pray as well.
When the doctor showed me the 1.5cm gap between the two bones that should join at the elbow I knew, for God’s own reasons, those prayers had not been answered the way I wanted. The doctor told me they’d have to operate and wire it all back together.
More waiting, as they lined up a surgeon to do the operation as soon as possible. Staff at the hospital kept telling me they couldn’t believe I looked so calm and comfortable, given the pain I was in. What can I say? That was all God’s doing and His provision.
After we filled out the numerous forms for the operation the next day, we came home.
Later we decided to drop around a friend’s rose that had been a gift given to her by another friend when she’d been at bible study the night before and she’d forgotten it. When they saw my arm in a sling, our friends were immediately solicitous and asked us to stay for dinner. It was lovely to be spoiled and coddled and generally made a fuss of.
Before we came home, they prayed for me and the operation the next day. Then they let all our bible study group know so they could pray too. What a blessing to go into an operation knowing there was that sort of love and prayerful support behind me.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.’ I’d rephrase it to say ‘A friend is a masterpiece of God.’ What a blessed day when God brought us to this area and this church and gave us the friends we have here.
Thanks too to all of my extended family here at families.com that sent messages and let me know you were praying for me over the past 7 weeks. I was aware of the groundswell of prayer support. You’re all a blessing.
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