Reflection of Blessings
Bare with me.....this is long, but worth reading; and some of it is dedicated to certain people :)
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I have been reflecting over this past week or so (and yes I know it is midnight and really it is Thursday, but since this past Saturday, I have been really focused on God’s promises and everlasting love either through my devotions or tangible ways that God brings His people to minister to others.
I tell you all. This is been far one of the worse recoveries I have faced over my 30 years of surgeries----that doesn’t mean I’ve had 30 surgeries, I’ve had probably over 100. It doesn’t get easier. I remember being young and bouncing back like a ball right after surgery. I would drink and drink and eat and eat (if allowed) after surgery just to get that IV fluid out of me; I would beg my doctors to let me walk around and go home; and yet I would be denied until at least my 2nd or 3rd day out of surgery. I remember how strict visitation was when I was younger at UVA and how horrible I felt having to stay at the ICU by myself for days when needed and not seeing my folks on a daily basis. I remember my friends, especially “The Roberts, the Henkles, The Woods”, Doves,, and the Misantones (and of course my sister’s and I “adopted VA grandarents Warren and Erma”) were faithful visitors to the hospital and I remember loving all the gifts I got. Looking back, I realized I only appreciated the tangible gifts and not the meaning behind it. Anyhow, back to what I was saying. As I grow older, I have grown wiser. But I have also realized life is frail and weak. My body doesn’t mend like it used to. I cry in pain a lot of nights since this past surgery until my doctor finally find a combo of medication that will help me sleep and be pain free for the rest of the night. For that I am grateful. I remember taking as a child only a week or two off school (my teacher Mr. Roberts was great and understanding); and I couldn’t wait to go back to school. Now, after initially thinking I could go back to work after 3 weeks of surgery, I can’t. I am off work for another 5 weeks----only because I am still VERY VERY week in the left shoulder, could barely actively move it on my own, thus, haven’t even started ANY strengthening exercises. Basically, my therapist and doctor tells me the same thing “REST, REST REST……and do your home therapy exercises.
Before I go on, I’m NOT in any way complaining. I want to share the light that has been shown to me this past surgery. I am reminded of the frailty of the body and how as you get older, you don’t heal as fast or you don’t “bounce back” as usual.. It reminds me of the sin that has encompassed our world and that because of sin, our body’s won’t ever be perfect until we meet God in Glory and in Heaven.
I have been extremely blessed by my many friends. Friends from church, friends that I’ve maintained contact with from school, friends I re-connected with through Facebook, very sweet co-workers, and friends who suddenly just reappear in your life because you have seen then in a shopping center and decided to exchange numbers again.
The first two weeks of recovery was rough. I would be in so much pain to the point that meds wasn’t helping and I would either cry or sleep…there was even a time that I was running a temperature because my body was trying to fight the pain. I felt lonely and lost. Dad left for work in the mornings, Mom left in the afternoons. My 3 hr time between seeing both parents, I would spend (believe it or not, NOT watching TV), but sleeping and occasionally doing FB. By last Friday, a new med was called in; and it was working and I was once again, beginning to feel like myself---but just in less pain....and sleeping less.
This past week has been a HUGE BLESSING. I want to share it with you.
Last Tuesday, a week after my surgery, Miriam came by and brought me homemade brownies. I ate them feeling the love she put in it and the love of God in her. I enjoyed talking to her and catching up with her and her presence (and Listening to her new CD on sale)
Saturday: I get a call from Burress. His family decided to come to WAYNESBORO to go to Sonic (by the way, my fav place on earth….more so than Starbuks),, Home Depo, etc. He called to see if he and his family could visit. My immediate reaction was YES!!!!!!!!!!! I had so much fun talking to Burress, Kristen, and Cora……and love how I got a hug from Cora and a kiss (I think babies are the cure to make anyone smile). I loved our time together and our time of prayer…..I see how the love of God is there. Just the presence of them was a great encouragement ministry to me and I felt loved and I felt God’s love.
This past Tuesday, I get beautiful roses from my friend Alexis. I Love Roses, and she has been my dearest friend for almost 10 years. Also, this day, Dawn F and Carol C came by to visit me as well. I got my McFlurry (I love ‘em), dark chocolate and a CD. THIS time I see (as opposed to when I was young), I felt the love of God in those gifts. They didn’t have to bring anything; they insisted; but I saw and felt the every present love of God in our conversation and in our visit with each other. It’s great to catch up with friends I haven’t seen for a while because of the snow or because of the recovery. THE same day, my childhood friend Hannah tells me she was in the area so we go to spend a good amount of time together. We usually spend time at least once of month together , but it was still great to have someone who cares to take me out to eat and drive me places so I didn’t have to be so stir crazy in the house!
Yesterday, Wednesday, I heard a voice I haven’t heard for almost 15 years. Monica called me. Monica had sent me a wonderful CARE package full of love and encouragement the other day (I had got it on Monday). Hearing her voice made me smile. I remember as a child, I used to be so attached to her and her older sister. I remember her sitting and watching cartoon movies with me and her youngest sister. Memories all came back; I cried with happiness that as sometimes addictive FB could be, how grateful I was to reconnect with a friend that I cherished dearly as a child. Today, I also finally got to me my best friend’s adoptive baby Kia. She drove from Broadway to my house just to see me and just for me to get some baby cuddles……which again, but a great smile on my face. Her presence too, makes me feel her Love for God shown toward me. This day, I also saw a friend who has known me as a child---no as a BABY. He recognized me and called me “Hello, Rebekah”. I introduced him to my friend Liz. Mike Beverly started telling stories to Liz of what in inspiration I was a child, etc. He told Liz of my “adoptive VA grandfather Warren, who was one to take off EVERY TIME I was sick or had to go to the surgery”. I told Liz that talking about Warren warms my heart because he really was one who took time off of his day to come to my hospital room because I was always a cranky kid and Warren was really the only one who could calm me down, sing to me, and let the doctors do whatever they had to do. He passed away in Thanksgiving ’94; every Thanksgiving is hard for me; I felt his presence leave when he died---I felt it and I knew it; an hour later we got that confirmed phone call. But the point to all this is that since this conversation, I had thought a lot of Warren and missing him terribly. I have had my 5 minutes of crying because I miss him so much; but God then reminded me of how Warren’s Love was only because of God’s Love for him. Warren was self-less and most of his personal days/vacation days was to be with me. I was his Baby Doll (his nickname he gave me)…..aside from my parents. I trusted no one in the hospital except him. He will no longer give me the human comfort I got every time I have surgery; but I tell you, each surgery, I feel presence of God more than anything---and sometimes I even remember Warren and it makes me smile.
(Sorry, I’m going off on a Tangent but trying to make a point of how peaceful I have felt more than any other surgery, despite my pain and such)
Thursday, (today), the plan is for Maretta to come by with dinner and have a girls movie night. Dad premised to be in another room as he did not want to see whatever sill/crazy/ movie we choose. (haha….bless my Dad’s heart). Just Maretta’s trying (we’ve tried to set up time twice already) to come over and visit and bring me a meal meals so much to me….it’s NOT the meal, it’s the Love I see she has for Jesus that she wants to share with me. It’s the Love that God has commanded all His Saints to share towards one another.
My perspective has changes the more and more I face surgery. This has been a tough one for me to recuperate and feel like myself. I still have good days and I still have my bad days; I have my days I absolutely HATE therapy and I have my days I go in knowing it is the best thing for me to do. I’m 30, but my Daddy still makes me feel like a princess and calls me princess or pumpkin…..I feel blessed and so great. One thing I do know…. God is in the midst of all this and that He is my Savior, my Rock, my Protector, my Lover, and my Healer. God is not just in his Creation, His Words, or Hymns (which I sing every day and “play” the piano if I can). God’s love is manifested in so many ways. This past two weeks He has shown me his Love through the Love of many many friends who go out of their way to come see me to say “HI”, pray with me., cards or care packages. So to all my faithful friends out there. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart and I love and cherish each one of you!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been reflecting over this past week or so (and yes I know it is midnight and really it is Thursday, but since this past Saturday, I have been really focused on God’s promises and everlasting love either through my devotions or tangible ways that God brings His people to minister to others.
I tell you all. This is been far one of the worse recoveries I have faced over my 30 years of surgeries----that doesn’t mean I’ve had 30 surgeries, I’ve had probably over 100. It doesn’t get easier. I remember being young and bouncing back like a ball right after surgery. I would drink and drink and eat and eat (if allowed) after surgery just to get that IV fluid out of me; I would beg my doctors to let me walk around and go home; and yet I would be denied until at least my 2nd or 3rd day out of surgery. I remember how strict visitation was when I was younger at UVA and how horrible I felt having to stay at the ICU by myself for days when needed and not seeing my folks on a daily basis. I remember my friends, especially “The Roberts, the Henkles, The Woods”, Doves,, and the Misantones (and of course my sister’s and I “adopted VA grandarents Warren and Erma”) were faithful visitors to the hospital and I remember loving all the gifts I got. Looking back, I realized I only appreciated the tangible gifts and not the meaning behind it. Anyhow, back to what I was saying. As I grow older, I have grown wiser. But I have also realized life is frail and weak. My body doesn’t mend like it used to. I cry in pain a lot of nights since this past surgery until my doctor finally find a combo of medication that will help me sleep and be pain free for the rest of the night. For that I am grateful. I remember taking as a child only a week or two off school (my teacher Mr. Roberts was great and understanding); and I couldn’t wait to go back to school. Now, after initially thinking I could go back to work after 3 weeks of surgery, I can’t. I am off work for another 5 weeks----only because I am still VERY VERY week in the left shoulder, could barely actively move it on my own, thus, haven’t even started ANY strengthening exercises. Basically, my therapist and doctor tells me the same thing “REST, REST REST……and do your home therapy exercises.
Before I go on, I’m NOT in any way complaining. I want to share the light that has been shown to me this past surgery. I am reminded of the frailty of the body and how as you get older, you don’t heal as fast or you don’t “bounce back” as usual.. It reminds me of the sin that has encompassed our world and that because of sin, our body’s won’t ever be perfect until we meet God in Glory and in Heaven.
I have been extremely blessed by my many friends. Friends from church, friends that I’ve maintained contact with from school, friends I re-connected with through Facebook, very sweet co-workers, and friends who suddenly just reappear in your life because you have seen then in a shopping center and decided to exchange numbers again.
The first two weeks of recovery was rough. I would be in so much pain to the point that meds wasn’t helping and I would either cry or sleep…there was even a time that I was running a temperature because my body was trying to fight the pain. I felt lonely and lost. Dad left for work in the mornings, Mom left in the afternoons. My 3 hr time between seeing both parents, I would spend (believe it or not, NOT watching TV), but sleeping and occasionally doing FB. By last Friday, a new med was called in; and it was working and I was once again, beginning to feel like myself---but just in less pain....and sleeping less.
This past week has been a HUGE BLESSING. I want to share it with you.
Last Tuesday, a week after my surgery, Miriam came by and brought me homemade brownies. I ate them feeling the love she put in it and the love of God in her. I enjoyed talking to her and catching up with her and her presence (and Listening to her new CD on sale)
Saturday: I get a call from Burress. His family decided to come to WAYNESBORO to go to Sonic (by the way, my fav place on earth….more so than Starbuks),, Home Depo, etc. He called to see if he and his family could visit. My immediate reaction was YES!!!!!!!!!!! I had so much fun talking to Burress, Kristen, and Cora……and love how I got a hug from Cora and a kiss (I think babies are the cure to make anyone smile). I loved our time together and our time of prayer…..I see how the love of God is there. Just the presence of them was a great encouragement ministry to me and I felt loved and I felt God’s love.
This past Tuesday, I get beautiful roses from my friend Alexis. I Love Roses, and she has been my dearest friend for almost 10 years. Also, this day, Dawn F and Carol C came by to visit me as well. I got my McFlurry (I love ‘em), dark chocolate and a CD. THIS time I see (as opposed to when I was young), I felt the love of God in those gifts. They didn’t have to bring anything; they insisted; but I saw and felt the every present love of God in our conversation and in our visit with each other. It’s great to catch up with friends I haven’t seen for a while because of the snow or because of the recovery. THE same day, my childhood friend Hannah tells me she was in the area so we go to spend a good amount of time together. We usually spend time at least once of month together , but it was still great to have someone who cares to take me out to eat and drive me places so I didn’t have to be so stir crazy in the house!
Yesterday, Wednesday, I heard a voice I haven’t heard for almost 15 years. Monica called me. Monica had sent me a wonderful CARE package full of love and encouragement the other day (I had got it on Monday). Hearing her voice made me smile. I remember as a child, I used to be so attached to her and her older sister. I remember her sitting and watching cartoon movies with me and her youngest sister. Memories all came back; I cried with happiness that as sometimes addictive FB could be, how grateful I was to reconnect with a friend that I cherished dearly as a child. Today, I also finally got to me my best friend’s adoptive baby Kia. She drove from Broadway to my house just to see me and just for me to get some baby cuddles……which again, but a great smile on my face. Her presence too, makes me feel her Love for God shown toward me. This day, I also saw a friend who has known me as a child---no as a BABY. He recognized me and called me “Hello, Rebekah”. I introduced him to my friend Liz. Mike Beverly started telling stories to Liz of what in inspiration I was a child, etc. He told Liz of my “adoptive VA grandfather Warren, who was one to take off EVERY TIME I was sick or had to go to the surgery”. I told Liz that talking about Warren warms my heart because he really was one who took time off of his day to come to my hospital room because I was always a cranky kid and Warren was really the only one who could calm me down, sing to me, and let the doctors do whatever they had to do. He passed away in Thanksgiving ’94; every Thanksgiving is hard for me; I felt his presence leave when he died---I felt it and I knew it; an hour later we got that confirmed phone call. But the point to all this is that since this conversation, I had thought a lot of Warren and missing him terribly. I have had my 5 minutes of crying because I miss him so much; but God then reminded me of how Warren’s Love was only because of God’s Love for him. Warren was self-less and most of his personal days/vacation days was to be with me. I was his Baby Doll (his nickname he gave me)…..aside from my parents. I trusted no one in the hospital except him. He will no longer give me the human comfort I got every time I have surgery; but I tell you, each surgery, I feel presence of God more than anything---and sometimes I even remember Warren and it makes me smile.
(Sorry, I’m going off on a Tangent but trying to make a point of how peaceful I have felt more than any other surgery, despite my pain and such)
Thursday, (today), the plan is for Maretta to come by with dinner and have a girls movie night. Dad premised to be in another room as he did not want to see whatever sill/crazy/ movie we choose. (haha….bless my Dad’s heart). Just Maretta’s trying (we’ve tried to set up time twice already) to come over and visit and bring me a meal meals so much to me….it’s NOT the meal, it’s the Love I see she has for Jesus that she wants to share with me. It’s the Love that God has commanded all His Saints to share towards one another.
My perspective has changes the more and more I face surgery. This has been a tough one for me to recuperate and feel like myself. I still have good days and I still have my bad days; I have my days I absolutely HATE therapy and I have my days I go in knowing it is the best thing for me to do. I’m 30, but my Daddy still makes me feel like a princess and calls me princess or pumpkin…..I feel blessed and so great. One thing I do know…. God is in the midst of all this and that He is my Savior, my Rock, my Protector, my Lover, and my Healer. God is not just in his Creation, His Words, or Hymns (which I sing every day and “play” the piano if I can). God’s love is manifested in so many ways. This past two weeks He has shown me his Love through the Love of many many friends who go out of their way to come see me to say “HI”, pray with me., cards or care packages. So to all my faithful friends out there. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart and I love and cherish each one of you!
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