Brief Morning Update and Thoughts; January 16, 2014

One of the good things about a blog – as opposed to posting to a Facebook status – is that you can share some more minute information without inundating people.

After a certain while, they know about the blog – and then they can come here for more specific updates (or to see if anything had been added and not “publicized”, if you will).

And here’s an example of why not every single little thing is shared, as it happens.

And that’s because there are so many little battles going on in my sister’s body as it fights to be restored to full health.

My Dad e-mailed me at about 7:30 a.m. earlier this morning after I had forwarded to him and my Mom today’s Max Lucado mailer titled, “Doing What Comes Naturally”.

That mailer included the following – and I think you’ll be able to see why I sent it to them as encouragement:

“My child’s feelings are hurt, I tell her she’s special. My child’s injured, I do whatever it takes to make her feel better. My child’s afraid, I won’t go to sleep until she’s secure. I’m not a hero. I’m not unusual. I’m a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.”

“Moments of comfort from a parent. I can tell you they’re the sweetest moments in the day. They come naturally, willingly, joyfully. If all that’s so true, then why am I so reluctant to let my heavenly Father comfort me?”

“Being a father has taught me that when I’m criticized, injured, or afraid, there’s a Father who’s ready to comfort me. A Father who’ll hold me until I’m better. And who won’t go to sleep when I’m afraid. Ever! And that’s enough.”

My Dad wrote, “Right after you left (which was about 10 p.m.), her respiration rate started to drop and went to the mid 80’s for about an hour.  Never have prayed as hard for an hour.”

“Owen (the male nurse) was concerned and a prn breathing treatment didn’t help.

“He called the doctor and it was just wait and see.  And finally it went back up into the low 90’s.

“Later she had another fever and Tylenol brought it down.  So another rough night, but she is stable again.”

Which, of course, is something to be thankful for – and to continue to pray for.

Stability, and then progress.

I responded back to him once I made it to the office.

I wrote, “Keep praying, Dad -- even if it is the same words.  I think God is more concerned what we believe in our hearts as opposed to the words that come out of our mouth.

“There's this one song on Christian radio today that says, "When you don't know what to say ... just say, "Jesus".  There's still power in His name."

I believe that.  Do you?

It is also encouraging to know there are folks praying for my sister all over the country.

At Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia where my daughter goes to school.

In Pennsylvania, where my grandparents live.

In Missouri, where we my sister and I have friends who are our church’s original pastor’s son and his wife.

What other locations, outside of Texas, are folks praying for my sister from?

Please leave a comment – and thank you for each and every prayer – for her, the doctors, nurses and caregivers, my brother-in-law, his two daughters and my parents.