A life of miracles

As an infant, crawling around beneath my father on the carpet, I found and swallowed an almond whole.

The Korean War had left my dad with forty percent loss of hearing, so he didn’t realize he’d dropped the almond nor that I’d swallowed it.

The doctor didn’t know either.

All he did know was that I was obviously in a lot of pain and running a high fever, with apparently no reason.

But God worked a miracle.

The only reason I know anything about the circumstance is the almond ended up in my diaper.

Mom made sure I knew how God had worked in my infant-hood to heal and protect me.

At the age of four, I had to undergo surgery.

My adenoids were causing me hearing loss.

It was definitely God who walked me through the frightening moment of being taken from my parents to prep me for surgery.

The miracle for me was how quick it all seemed.

I remember the nurse taking me away and then I was waking up to my dad sitting next to me and hearing it was all over.

For my parents the miracle was in my condition.

No longer did I have chronic ear infections, and my hearing was perfect.

At age six I was rushed into emergency surgery.

Through my own foolishness, I’d been hit in the right eye by a stick from the ground.

It had broken off inside my eye.

The best eye surgeon the hospital could get worked to repair the damage.

Again, God showed up.

By a complete miracle my retina was unharmed.

Although, I’d lost part of my iris and had a tear in my cornea, there was minimal damage considering what had happened.

Weeks of antibiotics followed, due to the obvious danger of bacterial infection from the stick.

People all over were praying for me.

God answered.

I never had an infection, infact my eye sight in that eye was 20-45 for many years.

At age 17, I again under went emergency surgery.

My appendix was on the verge of bursting.

God was there.

The miracle this time was the fact that it didn’t burst and recovery was swift.

At the age of twenty-one, I went through my third emergency surgery.

While giving birth to our first daughter I’d torn my cervix.

It had gone unnoticed and five weeks later I tore it again.

After nearly passing out from loss of blood I was admitted to the prep room.

God stepped in with a miracle.

I didn’t die.

At the age of 34, I returned to the hospital for surgery.

I need a hysterectomy.

I’d been unwell for nine months.

My slender frame was down to 90 lbs.

My body was in such constant pain that I couldn’t sleep and eating was very minimal.

God preformed a miracle.

My first conscious thought was of relief and joy.

I was out of pain.

The recovery was long and slow, but I improved.

I’m 42 now.

It’s been almost a year since I was diagnosed with asthma.

It’s been more than a year since my family has had to learn how to adjust, because, “Mom is sick”.

It’s been about a month since we moved and it has definitely been a miracle.

And God hasn’t finished yet.

He’s healing me every day.

He’s walked me through so much.

My life is a testimony to the goodness of God.

His Mercy, faithfulness, and love are so evident.

I’ve told all this before and I’m sure I’ll tell it all again.

It’s a story worth telling:

A life full of miracles.

But mine is not the only one.

Every life is surrounded by God’s miraculous works.

Whether they are recognized or not.

Every breath is a miracle.

Each beautiful life is a miracle.

I’ve shared mine.

How will you share yours?

A day of answered prayer

It’s not been very fun.

I’ve been struggling with migraines off and on for two weeks.

Yesterday morning greeted me with the same migraine I’d gone to bed with.

It wasn’t exactly a welcoming way to wake up.

Yet, the Lord’s soft voice reminded me to trust.

Time with the Lord helped me sort out my emotions and my priorities.

My prayer request, which I shared with a friend and our children, was my resting in the Lord’s hands.

Especially since we were expecting to have Pastor and his wife over for supper.

We are just getting to know the body here, and with the appointment, my “to do” list was longer than usual.

With all these things on my mind, I knew my struggle would be with letting go of the desires I’d already formed and simply trusting God with it all.

Personally, I had been praying for my husband.

He had shared his own request with me the night before.

Prayer for our daughters, the two in college, has been a continuous thread in my conversations with Jesus.

Throughout the earliest part of the morning the Lord brought several people to mind and heart.

It is always a pleasure to lift up others in prayer, but it can also be exhausting.

Since my body was already struggling, even praying seemed to require more effort.

Yet, I knew I could rest in God’s love.

It was mid morning.

I’d been struggling through teaching homeschool.

Our sweet Anne had made me a heat pack for my head.

I’d closed my eyes for a moment, trying to pray for strength to do what was required.

It was incredible.

My migraine melted away.

Before too long, I was able to share with the kids and text my friend the praise report.

It was such a pleasure to be free from the pain.

As the day went on I received a text.

It was relating a fact which was another answer to prayer.

It was an amazing answer to years of prayer, one I’d prayed on faith alone, because circumstances did nothing to show it as being possible.

My heart rejoiced.

God was teaching me, speaking with me, about His faithfulness.

These days of restrictions physically have worn me down emotionally.

The voice of doubt has whispered, “Will you ever be well?” too often of late.

Battling the enemy can wear upon the soul.

God was lifting my heart.

And He wasn’t finished.

That afternoon I received a call from one of our college students.

She was excited to relate circumstances which support and encourage her endeavors at school.

It was another answered prayer.

When my husband arrived home, he was in great spirits.

He shared with me how God had really answered his prayer request of the previous night.

It brought tears to my eyes as I listened to yet another answered prayer.

Pastor and his wife arrived and we all had a lovely time of fellowship and getting to know one another.

As I prepared for bed, reflecting on our conversation, it occurred to me that it was another answered prayer.

I’d asked God several times throughout the day to bless our time together.

And that’s exactly what occurred.

In the moment of reflection God’s truth was apparent.

The enemy might be able to fling discouragement and doubt at me.

My body might be frail or in pain.

Life might require courage and trust to face the unknown.

But nothing compares to the faithfulness of Christ Jesus.

He is worthy of all praise and honor.

His Word is life.

His love is true.

His salvation is perfect.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You so much for so many answered prayers. Thank You for carrying me through each and every day. Thank You for holding me in Your hands. No matter the circumstances, You are faithful. Thank You!

One of my favorite colors

Sis came in from shopping yesterday and tossed a bag onto the bed.

“Happy birthday!”

I smiled.

“Well, thank you!”

We both know my birthday isn’t till next week.

But it didn’t matter.

She knew I had run out of yarn.

She also knew crocheting has brought me joy as I’ve been able to make things while I’m resting.

It was love.

Her love for me.

And it was Jesus.

She’d been uncertain which yarn to buy.

But felt this was the one.

I smiled.

“It’s one of my favorite colors. Thank you sweetheart.”

A smile lit her beautiful face.

“Oh Mom! I’d forgotten.”

I’ve been crocheting since and feeling so blessed.

Not only has God provided for my needs in incredible ways, He’s gone the extra distance.

He blessed my hands and mind with something to do.

No one will ever convince me God is anything but good.

I’ve seen it in the large and in the tiny.

I’ve experienced it in the life changing and in the mundane.

He’s all loving.

He’s gentle and kind.

And He cares enough to even direct something as inconsequential as the color of my birthday present.

What an amazing God!

Time change

They weren’t open when I left.

It’s only been a few days.

The unfurled crimson has completely transformed these once spiky green stalks into beauty.

I’m so thankful for every bud and bloom.

I love flowers.

They seem so fitting today.

The sun is out.

The sky is blue with just a few puffs of whiteness to decorate.

And I’m reminded of how great God is.

How good God is.

How loving God is.

Only in Him can I find true meaning, fulfillment, and joy.

Only in these moments of stillness before Him do I seem to be able to drink in His awesomeness.

AWESOME

Only God is truly awe inspiring, because with every mountain peek or earth shattering waterfall which instills a sense of awe, He is the Creator.

With every sonnet and ballad and marvelous instrumentals we call Beethoven, Mozart, or Mendelssohn even in those He was the author.

Truly, there is so much to be amazed by.

Especially when times are difficult and life is overwhelming.

What a beautiful wonderful God!

Let all creation sing His praises!