Long Night

It is now about 6:45 in the morning and I am awake with only about an hour's worth of sleep from this last night. Hospitals are in the business of healing and they seem to be quite good at it, except for one thing, remembering the healing power of sleep. I know that meds are needed and orders have to be followed but goodness gracious couldn't they let a body sleep at least two hours at a time and does blood have to be drawn from a person in the dark hours? Maybe it's because they know most people are not a fan of this and they try to catch you when you won't fight back.


Please forgive my complaining, but golly I am tired! I know poor Rodney is too. He had enough struggles just trying to sleep on the short couch, and I know he got awakened every time I did. I am sending him home tonight so that he will be able to preach a coherent sermon in the morning. Though isn't it sweet that he insists on staying with me whenever I am in the hospital.
Yes it was a long night but in the end it will be worth it, when I have a knee that will work without pain.

There were many instances in the Bible when men and women had long nights. Here are two from the Old Testament........


2 Samuel 12:16

Common English Bible (CEB)

¹⁶ David begged God for the boy. He fasted and spent the night sleeping on the ground.

 
Daniel 6:18

Common English Bible (CEB)

¹⁸ The king then went home to his palace and fasted through the night. No pleasures were brought to him, and he couldn’t sleep.

In 2 Samuel, David is praying for the life of his new born son to be spared. And in Daniel, the king is dealing with his conscience.
In both of these verses the men were calling out and were very much aware that the God of the day was the very same God of the night.

The author in Psalm put it very nicely.......

Psalm 42:8

Common English Bible (CEB)

⁸ By day the Lord commands his faithful love;
    by night his song is with me—
    a prayer to the God of my life.
 

Isn't is comforting to know that no matter what we are going through, or when we are going through it, God is there and in control. I did pray quite a bit last night, for sleep. But every time he was gently leading me there, my door opened again!!!

Oh well, please forgive my tired ranting. The surgery is over, healing has begun and I will get sleep at home.

Blessings!

Anxious Anticipation

Today, as I am sitting here writing this, surgery is only two days away and I am a little anxious. Now I know that there are thousands who have gone through this same surgery and have come out just fine. I know in my own heart that that is going to be the case with me, but personally I am a little scared. Not of the actual surgery part. For some reason that is only comforting to me. It means that the pain in my knee will be on it's way to being taken care of, after the healing has happened. It's the healing part that scares me.

I remember the pain when I was healing from the partial knee replacement, (that is going to be replaced with a full one). I remember the first day after the pain block in my leg had worn off. I remember just trying to get up the back steps and on into the house the day I came home from the hospital. I remember the pain of going to therapy and having the therapist make me bend my knee back to a certain point, no matter how much it hurt. I remember the pain of just trying to get to the bathroom or getting a drink of water, in my own home.

This morning as I was listening to my second favorite pastor, he was preaching on the courage of Daniel. Now I realize that Daniel's courage could have gotten him eaten by a pack of Lions, and I certainly do not have to worry about that, but there were some scriptures, he read, that gave me pause......
 

Daniel 10:18-19

The Message (MSG)

^18-19 “Then this humanlike figure touched me again and gave me strength. He said, ‘Don’t be afraid, friend. Peace. Everything is going to be all right. Take courage. Be strong.’
“Even as he spoke, courage surged up within me...."


As I heard these, being read,  it was almost like I could feel what Daniel must have felt. It was a wonderful reminder that God is always sending safety, comfort and peace to us if we would only let Him. If we would only listen to the small voice speaking, to let the soft hand ,touching us on the shoulder, give us comfort in the fact of knowing that we are not alone. To remember that God will bring us through anything and everything.

How about you? Are you going through some scary times in your life? Don't be like me and let fear take ahold of you. Don't sit and stew. Sit and pray. Let the soft, gentle strength of God comfort you.

Remember what happened with Daniel. It will make your, what seems like terribly huge, problems diminish and remind you of all that God can and will do. Hey, He can shut a lions mouth. He certainly will bring us through money struggles, marriage problems, rebellious children, job issues, sadness, and even pain.

I feel so much better just thinking on these things. I hope you do too!!!!

Blessings!