Encouragement

Waiting to have surgery was a time to build my physical and emotional strength. I was very sick during the majority of the time and many experiences are somewhat fuzzy to me. I remember one night especially well. On that night I had a nurse that I had not had before. He was not very attentive and seemed preoccupied when he came around to introduce himself early in the shift. I shared with him that I was not breathing well and thought I needed oxygen again. "Uh huh" was all he said and left my room. I remember struggling with my breathing throughout the night and at one point the nurse's aide came into my room. She could tell that I was having a very hard time breathing. She asked me several questions. I knew that I was not answering them in a coherent way but I could not seem to formulate my thoughts. I did not make sense. I remember begging her to help me. One thing that I remember was telling her that I thought I was dying. When she left my room, I realized that I was not going to get any help that night. I felt so discouraged. As I lay in my hospital room that night I prayed. "God, I am dying. If you are ready for me, I am ready to go but if it is not my time, please send Dr. M to help me." I prayed this over and over throughout the remainder of the night. It was not Dr. M's usual practice to make rounds early in the morning but about 7:30 that morning, Dr. M walked in the door of my room. My eyes welled with tears the minute I saw him. He took one look at me and sent me directly to intensive care. My oxygen levels were in the 70's and I was not getting enough oxygen to function. I spent 2 days in intensive care that time. It was a discouraging time for me.

Everyone needs encouragement. Yesterday, MG and I spent the day at the local clinic getting IVIG. I go for infusion at a local oncology clinic. Most of the patients have cancer. It was a very busy day. The nurses were meeting themselves coming and going. All 22 chairs were full most of the day. I visited with a man and a woman that I have spoken with several times before. She and her husband blessed me with the wonderful way they encouraged one another several weeks ago. He spoke so lovingly about her when she left. He said that she was an encouragement to him and a blessing from God. All I did was tell them how much watching their interaction blessed me. Yesterday the woman shared with me that she had written a prayer about our meeting a few weeks earlier. She stated that I gave the encouragement that she and her husband needed at just the right time. Once again I was encouraged that an observation that I shared encouraged someone else. We all need encouragement. I pray that you are encouraged by others and the hope that comes from knowing Jesus Christ and His love for you.

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14