Rebecca's Journey - 131
Dear Friends,
Almost four weeks ago I fell in my room, sustaining a multiple fracture in my right femur. The paramedics came and took me to the hospital. There are so many swirling and divergent thoughts as I try to recall the incident for you. The primary memory is of excruciating pain.
The accident was on a Sunday and no surgeon was available. So on Monday they took me down for surgery, but the anesthesiologist discovered I had a temperature and said it was too risky to do the procedure. I waited yet another day. Each time I was moved, even with heavy medication, the pain was almost unbearable.
On Tuesday afternoon they were able to set the bone, putting in a metal plate, and I began the process of healing. I remained in the hospital for a total of nine days.
The day I was released was warm, with a hint of spring hidden in its corners. I sat in front of the hospital waiting for Paul to bring the van and just breathed the fresh air. There was an emerging sense of relief, almost joy and thankfulness. I really was returning home.
Never has my sunlit room been more precious - or my garden, still locked in winter's grip but with the edges of spring beginning to show.
The next day, Donatienne, my physical therapist, asked, "So, what is God saying to you about all this?" I had to admit to her that I did not know. I was only holding on to what I knew of His goodness. I held this question before Him, "Lord, what is Your heart in all of this?"
In my Bible reading I was in John. I had finished John 14, and couldn't wait until the following morning so I could begin John 15. For me John 15, 16, and 17 are like a rich, delightful treat. John 15 has always felt fresh to me, as if I had never read it before. "I am the real vine, My Father is the vine-dresser. He removes any of My branches which are not bearing fruit and He prunes the branch that does bear fruit to increase its yield." (J.B. Phillips Translation). You prune Your branches to bring forth more fruit! My mind flashed to the vineyards in France. When the vintner prunes in the autumn, he cuts the vines down until they are almost sticks.
As I was reading this passage, I was reminded of what happened just before this accident. Just a few weeks before I had had the joy of leading one of my nurses to Him. After our prayer time together, she just stood quietly, radiantly, and then said, " I've never felt like this before. I feel that something remarkable has happened to me". A wonderful transformation of a human life encountering the God of the universe!
After returning from the hospital I was able to share His love with two other nurses and pray with my physical therapist. Father, is this the kind of fruit You want to see in my life?
I look forward to the days ahead. After seasons of pruning we will see even greater fruitfulness.
He is the vine, we are the branches. I pray that He will give us increased faith to leave our lives in His hands and trust the vine-dresser to prune and care for us as He knows is best, for our sakes and for the Kingdom's - and that He will bring us to greater fruitfulness.
My love to all,
Rebecca
PS We have just received word that the young lady who was coming to take care of me in August and September has to stay on in England for her school and will be unable to be with me. Pray with us for the Lord to provide caregivers from August through the end of the year.
Almost four weeks ago I fell in my room, sustaining a multiple fracture in my right femur. The paramedics came and took me to the hospital. There are so many swirling and divergent thoughts as I try to recall the incident for you. The primary memory is of excruciating pain.
The accident was on a Sunday and no surgeon was available. So on Monday they took me down for surgery, but the anesthesiologist discovered I had a temperature and said it was too risky to do the procedure. I waited yet another day. Each time I was moved, even with heavy medication, the pain was almost unbearable.
On Tuesday afternoon they were able to set the bone, putting in a metal plate, and I began the process of healing. I remained in the hospital for a total of nine days.
The day I was released was warm, with a hint of spring hidden in its corners. I sat in front of the hospital waiting for Paul to bring the van and just breathed the fresh air. There was an emerging sense of relief, almost joy and thankfulness. I really was returning home.
Never has my sunlit room been more precious - or my garden, still locked in winter's grip but with the edges of spring beginning to show.
The next day, Donatienne, my physical therapist, asked, "So, what is God saying to you about all this?" I had to admit to her that I did not know. I was only holding on to what I knew of His goodness. I held this question before Him, "Lord, what is Your heart in all of this?"
In my Bible reading I was in John. I had finished John 14, and couldn't wait until the following morning so I could begin John 15. For me John 15, 16, and 17 are like a rich, delightful treat. John 15 has always felt fresh to me, as if I had never read it before. "I am the real vine, My Father is the vine-dresser. He removes any of My branches which are not bearing fruit and He prunes the branch that does bear fruit to increase its yield." (J.B. Phillips Translation). You prune Your branches to bring forth more fruit! My mind flashed to the vineyards in France. When the vintner prunes in the autumn, he cuts the vines down until they are almost sticks.
As I was reading this passage, I was reminded of what happened just before this accident. Just a few weeks before I had had the joy of leading one of my nurses to Him. After our prayer time together, she just stood quietly, radiantly, and then said, " I've never felt like this before. I feel that something remarkable has happened to me". A wonderful transformation of a human life encountering the God of the universe!
After returning from the hospital I was able to share His love with two other nurses and pray with my physical therapist. Father, is this the kind of fruit You want to see in my life?
I look forward to the days ahead. After seasons of pruning we will see even greater fruitfulness.
He is the vine, we are the branches. I pray that He will give us increased faith to leave our lives in His hands and trust the vine-dresser to prune and care for us as He knows is best, for our sakes and for the Kingdom's - and that He will bring us to greater fruitfulness.
My love to all,
Rebecca
PS We have just received word that the young lady who was coming to take care of me in August and September has to stay on in England for her school and will be unable to be with me. Pray with us for the Lord to provide caregivers from August through the end of the year.
posted by Bleary Eye @ Sunday, February 27, 2011
