SURGERY

Many are the Plans in a Person’s Heart, but it is the LORD’S PURPOSE that PREVAILS!

Proverbs 19:21

What can I say? God truly has our lives in the palm of His hands. We can plan and plan some more, but the verse above really does ring true...especially for me lately. I say this because my daughter of 15 years went back to school today after having her clavicle operated on two days ago. She broke her collar bone with the two pieces looking like a broken wish bone. A varsity skier on her high school ski team, she sped down this particular mountain on a vacation countless times. Why this time, she fell with her skies flying off, smashing her body into the snowy hill....I will never know. I held my breath when I saw the bump sticking out of her right shoulder. A few lonely tears slid down her cheek and with her sweet voice said, “I can’t move my arm.” There goes her track season and volleyball league this spring...pause...

           The orthopedic put a plate on the two pieces of bone to lock it back together. The operation took two hours. The operation was textbook and went well. She was very sore the first day and could barely move but managed to walk around gingerly and baby her right arm in a sling. The next day she laid on the sofa most of the day with me right next to her. I just wanted Sophie to feel better...a mother’s wish. She insisted going back to school today....did I mention she just had surgery on Monday?  Although I was very hesitant, this is what she wanted so that she could get back into the swing of things. She didn’t want to get too behind in her school work and sit around another day. 

We got up super early because it took her extra time to get ready...her arm in a sling and moving carefully, did I mention we got up at 4 am? Yawwwnnnn. I helped her get dressed, Dad changed the dressing on her wound, she ate breakfast, and off she stepped into our neighbor’s SUV...we have a nice carpool set up. She doesn’t want to be treated like a baby...she waved goodbye and gave me that look that she was going to be just fine....

So I sit here and wanted to “check in” because I haven’t written in a month. And all I can think of at this moment in amazement is that anything can happen. ANYTHING at any time. God is in control. Sometimes as we prepare for mission trips, things get delayed, team members get sick, bumps appear...but ultimately God is in control, and he is pruning us to be more like Him. So embrace the bumps and remember God is sovereign. So I leave you with this thought to ponder....

Pause....

What does SOVEREIGN mean to you?

MAY I PRAY? Lord Jesus...thank you for protecting my daughter on the mountain, in surgery, out of surgery, at school. You are the Alpha and the Omega....reign in our hearts and give us your grace in all the areas of our lives....because you are in control of the heavens and the earth, in the depth of the sea, the hills and valleys, mountain peaks, out in the galaxy...guide our paths and make us more like you each day....with grace, confidence, strength, and in your unconditional love. And when our plans don't quite come out like we planned, give us the grace to see your plans at work. In Jesus name, Amen.