It’s Never Fun Waiting

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:25-26)

I’m sharing the picture above because I don’t think anyone can fully appreciate a present moment without acknowledging how difficult the past moments were.  I look back to see how bad it was so I can appreciate how good it is now.

Today, I want to share some blessings from Dad’s stay at the Saint Cloud Hospital.  I look back and this was so very difficult.  It was hard to wait at home and not go immediately to see my dad  I kept waiting for the phone to ring to tell me dad had woken up.  Something to tell me that everything was going to be okay.  My siblings and I were in contact a lot the first week of the accident.  I can’t remember a time in my life where I have ever spent so much time on the phone with them.  It was a blessing in itself.  God bonded us through this experience.  He used each of our strengths through this.  We came together quickly to make decisions on dad’s behalf that we never dreamed we would have to make.  I have seen a strength in my siblings that I’ve never seen before.  I’m truly amazed and blessed by each of them as they came to bat for my dad.  This is a great testimony to our parents and what they cultivated in us as children.  I’m blessed that we were taught to stick together and make the most of everything we face.

Here is a journal entry I wrote five days after the accident…

Dear Father God, I feel like this is the greatest test my faith has ever been through.  It is so hard to see Dad in his hospital bed.  He has never been in the hospital like this.  The only time I can recall is when I was a little girl and he had back surgery.  But I don’t remember him in the hospital–I only remember him at home after the surgery.

Lord, this has been so very difficult but I know I need to trust You!  I know that I need to lean on You and trust that You have a plan.  Please help me to pay attention to the small details along this journey and praise you through the storm!

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence.”  ~2 Samuel 22:2-3

Lord, You are my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, my Refuge, my Shield, my Salvation, and my Stronghold.  I trust in You my Savior!

The time of waiting for Dad to wake up and wondering what he would be like when he woke up was agonizing.  We had no idea if he would remember us, how he would respond to us, and what he would be capable of.  From the beginning, the doctors kept telling us that all we could do is wait.

During the waiting time, God gave us many blessings.  Here are just a few…

1.  My sister Abigail was able to stay the first night with dad.  And my siblings continued to stay with dad every night for the next week.  He was never without someone while at the hospital that first week.  Thankful for understanding bosses and work places!

2.  The response of Dad’s family and friends.  It was quick that people started praying.  Their prayers could have ultimately saved Dad’s life.  News spreads quickly in a small town and this time I was very grateful for that.

3.  The doctors shared with us that there was a 50/50 chance that Dad would pull through this.  Thankfully God works beyond those numbers.  He still had a plan for my dad and wasn’t ready to let him leave this earth.

4.  The doctors were quick with the surgeries that Dad needed for his hip replacement and ankle repair.  These surgeries went well.

5.  The nurses were available for our questions.  They took my phone calls and walked me through what was happening.  They were kind, understanding, and very helpful.

6.  People gave financially to help with the burden of my siblings taking work off that first week.

7.  My brother Caleb prayed over my dad.  He does not have a relationship with Jesus and has not wanted to hear anything about God.  But God used him to pray for my dad.  That’s incredible!

8.  My brother Caleb also overheard the story of how my dad had a terrible feeling that something bad was going to happen and asked for prayer before it even took place.  My brother had to recognize the hand of God through this.

9.  We heard countless stories of how dad has been used to change lives.

That first week was terrible in many ways as we waited and waited.  We had no idea when dad would wake up or how he would respond to all of this.  But through that terrible time we witnessed God do incredible things.  God uses our greatest pains to advance His greatest glory.  He does not let the moments we live be wasted.  His hand is always on the righteous, providing and bringing redemption through the greatest pain.

“For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”  ~Psalm 5:12

Dear Father God, thank You for seeing fit to give my dad more time on this earth.  Thank You for not taking him from us.  I pray that He will have many fruitful years to come.  May You continue Your incredible work in Him and please give him a complete healing.  I pray that the pain of this storm will not be in vain.  Please use it to advance Your purpose and to greatly impact eternity.  Please use the details of this storm to bring my brothers Caleb and Bart to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Thank You Lord!

Counting my Blessings,