Practical Faith (A letter to a precious Aunt)

Hello precious Shirley, I just wanted to send some encouraging words, because if I sent grapes they probably wouldn’t keep.

I know what it’s like to be in the hands of Doctors and nurses, waiting for, and going through procedures.

As you know I was 27 when I became a Christian and I had already been 14 years a regular patient and recipient of Hospital care.

Things massively changed when I was found by Him.

I was no longer alone, friends and family are incredibly important, but ultimately they can’t go through what we go through, it’s uniquely personal.

As my relationship with Jesus grew deeper, His immanence, and His voice becoming clearer to me, was a comfort and I knew that when I once again was back in another ward, He most definitely was with me.

Not just the uncut umbilical cord of forever union, but I could realize Psalm 46:10, be still and let Him be my God, now.

However, when waiting for specific procedures where the Nurse or doctor uses that horrible euphemist phrase, “This might be uncomfortable” which is code for `wait for the ouch! `, then knowledge of God doesn’t always feel enough.

So I wanted to share a few occasions where He came through and met me at that time.

The last time I was in Hospital was about six years ago.  I had gone in with a bladder infection which had affected my kidney function.

Whilst waiting for a renal gram my heart began going into an erratic rhythm and also speeding up.

I was brought back to the ward with an oxygen mask on and my heart beating at 188 beats a minute, I was fearful and in pain, whilst the staff were to me anyway, running around like headless chickens.

I looked up and began to focus on the strip light above and suddenly without any preamble began quoting a favourite Hymn:

`My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name,

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil,

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand. `

I spoke out softly the whole Hymn and my heart went into normal rhythm.

Soon after, a medical technician handed me a paper ECG strip showing proof of God’s intervention; one side of the strip was crazy erratic the other beautifully even and regular, praise God!

When facing needles for injections or the taking of blood, when bracing for pain, another distraction that connects me to the Lover of my soul is to play the Alphabet Praise Game;

I begin going through the Alphabet to praise God:

A: Amazing, Awesome, Astounding…

B: Beautiful, Bold, Brave, Best…

C: Conqueror, Cream of the crop, Crazy good (artistic license allowed!!)

But you get the idea.

I tried it most successfully whilst having a very intrusive dental procedure.  By the end, the dentist and dental nurse were stopping to ask what letter I was on, and what words I had found!! Praise God!

I actually felt the presence of God why I hunted for the adjectives to describe His Glorious attributes.

Faith has to be practical, for personal comfort; trying to be aware of opportunities to share your Faith is another way that that has been helpful, and I’ve been amazed at the weird God opportunities that present themselves!

However, let’s be real, this is when you are well enough to even comprehend having the wherewithal to be able to look around, after surgeries, or in the middle of `things`.

Finally, we who go through this have no choice but to be brave, I found it harder, when feeling physically rubbish, to always be a riveting patient to any visitors.

I would long to see someone, and then soon after wish they would go!! LOL.

Except for Pauline, who knew me enough to love me sensitively and understood my fears, she’s a love.

So, to Michael, what can I say, please kick him for me;

That’s love!!!

All my love, and love in Christ;

Jesus is beautifully present as you read this line:

Mark.