The Power of Prayer & Forever Friendships….

Youversion devotional reading from Thursday, June 13 but read on Wednesday, July 4 upon mom’s return home…

“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” Alburt Camus.

Friendships based on God’s love are so important for us to have. Our inner circle of friends are the ones who guide us, strengthen us, listen to us, and most importantly are there for us no matter what. These friends are the ones who tell us Godly wisdom when we need to hear it, the ones who pray for us, and the ones who shine light in our lives when we are in dark times.

We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us while discerning who to share our pearls with so that those intimate friendships remain Christ centered. Christ blesses us through the people He brings into our life for a reason and purpose.

FROM “TAYLOR’S GIFT” THE BOOK

“I know you well enough to know you’re going to want to do it all yourself. And you’re going to tell people ‘we’re fine’ and ‘we don’t need anything,’ but if you deny people the opportunity to help, you’re taking away their blessing. You’re taking away a gift they want to give you.

Mom is home and she is surrounded by many friends who love her dearly.  Just being home has been therapy.  This is good because we couldn’t get therapy scheduled initially until next week.  This has since changed…thank goodness.  Will go over this later in post.  She has her cats and her precious dog taking care of her as well. Mom was little apprehensive about coming home, as we all were…but we are doing well!

One of the reasons she is home and moving forward is the fact she was in great shape before this ordeal. Mom has a group of friends called the Walkie Talkies.  They walk up to 5 miles a day 3-5 days a week.  They talk. They laugh. They care for one another.  I had the privilege of going with mom to eat breakfast with them the day after we returned.  They were ecstatic to see her…her helmet and all.

They shared a story that was so powerful and showed us how God has been in control from day one.  On Wednesday, June 12 mom was supposed to join the Walkie Talkies for a memorial walk.  The group has started taking memorial walks once a year to allow individuals to share about loved ones they have lost.  Mom is one who always shows up…she may be late, but she will be there.  Several of the members texted her and called her wondering where she was on this particular morning.  They did not know she was being airlifted to Springfield, Missouri with a subdural hematoma that could have potentially taken her life.  The group went on with their walk and their memorial stories.  At some point during their walk one of the group members received a phone call from a member of mom’s church who shared mom’s news.  At this point the group stopped, held hands and prayed.  This was probably happening when mom was in surgery correcting the brain bleed and while dad was in route to Springfield.  God knew mom needed the support of her group right then!  She got it.  She was touched greatly by this story of God’s provision and the godly friends she has been blessed with…we were too!

Mom and I read the above devotional together the day after we returned home from breakfast with this amazing group.  This led mom, dad and I to reflect over the many prayers that have been sent up for mom and our family.  We are so very thankful for our godly friends who love us through the good and the bad.  We have felt and have seen your prayers answered daily.

The same day I read this from Joni Eareckson Tada’s blog:

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a very familiar hymn, the arrangement is a little different, but try it

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

She was discussing praying for caregivers….which daddy and I have become.  But it also was timely in regards to prayers from others. She then prayed this prayer:

So, let me take a minute here and pray. I’m going to pray for not only you listening today who might have a physical disability, but let me pray for the people who help you, okay?

“Dear Father in heaven … As I think of the Cross your son endured for me, I thank you that the cross you’ve called us to bear will never, ever be heavier than you’ve designed. Our cross is exactly the right size and weight for each of us, your willing children. And daily, as we pick up our cross and follow you, bless you for more than matching the burden with grace-upon-grace. And if, at times, our hardships seem too ‘heavy’ a thing to daily endure; if these struggles are too much for our caregivers, too much for our husbands or wives or children to bear, then remind us that you are there right beside us shouldering the worst of the weight of the cross. Never let us forget that you are with us through it all, whether it is us, always sitting down in a stand-up world, or whether it’s our caregivers, always tending to our needs. And please, Lord Jesus, expand our vision so that we can appreciate the influence our trust in Jesus is having on people, others who watch and learn, even from a distance. For that brings you glory and gives rich and wonderful meaning to our days. In Jesus’ name … Amen.”

Mom was and continues to be moved by the outpouring of support by the many people who have reached out in different ways.  We are too!  I am seeing what a difference maker mom is in other’s lives.  I knew it but there is truly nothing like seeing it in person.  Both mom and dad have and will always care about others deeply and they are now seeing it come back to them.  We thank the Lord for showing us His love in action through many of you! We have a new saying thanks to my cousin, “this is a group project!”  She is right, it is!

Mom said it takes a village in response to Chris’ statement.  We are a village. You are part of that village. You are our prayer warriors! You are lifting us all up as we work to help mom move forward.  Every day we see a little progress in some area.  I have to be honest…it is slow and at times mom feels very frustrated.  She is so not where she wants to be.  Her determination and her desire keep her moving forward.  As I said earlier, we did not have therapy scheduled until next week because they were booked.  But thanks to one of our dear village leaders, mom and dad’s doctor, we have therapy starting on Wednesday of this week!!!

Their doctor is a personal friend who I went to college with and dad had the privilege of teaching when he subbed in a 7th/8th grade science class many years ago.  Who would have ever dreamed a student in his class would remember him subbing and then become friends with his daughter years later and then even later be his and mom’s primary care physician?  God did! He started orchestrating this many years ago!

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord … ”(Psalm 37:23)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

”A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

Thank you for being part of our village. We can not do it without you.  Mom, dad or the rest of our family…we are all cherishing and coveting your prayers! We feel them. We see them.  We know God is there!

Update on mom:  She is happy to be home. We are learning together…creating new routines for breakfast, lunch, dinner, bathing, dressing…all of it. Dad and I are working together to provide for mom’s 24 hour needs. We have become a great team. 🙂  She is a great leader.  She is still experiencing weakness in her left side.  This frustrates her…but we know it is normal and we have to take each day one at a time.  Therapy will be good to get her up and moving more than we can.  We are doing what we can at home to be in home therapists but we are ready for the professionals to give us guidance. She has had her nails done.  That was a great outing.

Every day is a new day.  Every day brings new challenges.  Mom is having to remind her brain what to do.  She knows and we are so thankful…now it is just getting her body to cooperate.  Thank you for praying that she approaches each day as a new beginning and has the courage to take a deep breath and start again!

Isaiah 41:10-13 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”