Like a Child

Isn't it amazing just when you think you have someone figured out, or think you know them, you are hit with the unexpected?  When Sweet Hubby and I first moved to Tennessee, we joined a young married bible study.  We have spent nearly every Wednesday evening for 3 years with these couples.  We have seen a few couples come and go, endured pregnancies between us, prayed for one another and have really developed a great bond.  I can tell you a special God given gift for everyone in our group. 

As I sat in our study this past Wednesday night, I realized that we really didn't know each other all that well.  It's almost like we know each other on a level and then it stops.  We don't know our history, our struggles both past and present, our miracles, our true testimonies.  Don't get me wrong, we have cried before one another and showed some of our vulnerabilities but some of us have stopped at certain levels.  I love the ones that can be so open and honest and really show all of their layers.  That's what makes a testimony so powerful. 

While I am probably considered the "truth teller," I have some major walls and there are not a lot of people that can break them down.  I am not sure at what point these walls were put up either or if it is just in my genetic makeup.  I come from a family of strong women.  We don't cry at the big stuff but show us a humane society commercial and we all have to get a box of tissue.  Women!?!  Maybe, it's not that we are strong but that we are broken somewhere so deep that our walls keep us from falling apart. 

When I was 14, my dad was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes and Hepatitis C.  Over the next year, he lost a lot of weight and some days could barely muster up enough strength to lift his head off the pillow.  I asked Jesus in my heart at the age of 7.  Long story short -- I really didn't become actively involved in church until I was 14.  I went to church camp between my freshman and sophomore years of high school and my life completely changed.  I rededicated my life to Christ.  I joined a church and was there every time the doors were open.  It was my escape from the reality of home, of a dying parent. 

During this time, I really had the joy of experiencing God's peace that goes beyond all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)  At the time, I didn't know that's what it was.  Some would say it was naivety or the unknowing of what was truly going on.  I really believe that I had a childlike faith that my dad was going to beat this and get a second chance at life.  I didn't believe he would actually die.  Nearly 2 years after being diagnosed, my dad was put on the liver transplant list.  This was our only hope.  Once you are placed on a transplant list, you are given a pager.  Before he could even get his pager, we got "the call."  It was 12:30am.  I had just hung up the phone (yes I know it was too late to be talking).  As I placed the phone back on the receiver, it rang.  My first thought was, "Oh crap, I am in big trouble if this is for me."  It wasn't.  It was Baylor Medical letting us know that they had a liver for my dad.  My mom was on the other line listening.  Talk about a freak out moment she was not ready for.  Peace overwhelmed my soul.  I hugged her and told her that everything would be fine and for them to go on, I would take care of any necessary phone calls.  I called my sister and had her take one side of the family and I would take the other.  Family was called, prayer chains were started.

My sister and I arrived at Baylor Medical Center right as they were taking my dad to surgery.  I told him that I loved him and would see him soon.  Never goodbye.  I went to sleep in the room and woke up to the doctor's voice telling us he had made it through. 

It's been 13 years since my dad's surgery.  He never thought he would see me graduate high school and God has blessed us with so much more.  He not only saw me graduate, but he was able to walk me down the aisle, meet all 4 of his grandchildren (soon to be 5) and have a second chance at life.  I am so thankful for the years God has blessed us with.

Miracles are not a thing of the Bible.  They are all around us, we just have to open our hearts and listen.

Romans 5:1-5(NLT)  Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

Doni