I haven’t had much time to write recently. I may not have time for awhile. Most of the hours of my last two weeks have been spent in a teaching hospital, absorbing a barrage of information, flowing with the tides of emotion and complex medical crises I have had no control over.
Someone I love with all my heart is fighting for his life.
I remain ever-ready, often sleepless, doing all that has to be done.
It has not been all unwanted work. We are fortunate that time has been extended by the heroic efforts of an army of medical practitioners and support services. It has allowed me to hold the hand of this person I love. Feeling the warmth of his skin. Watching the beat of his heart. Valuing him. Treasuring him. Helping him with whatever he needs or wants.
Because we were told numerous times already his odds of survival are slim, almost none.
And yet …
There is faith. As long as his heart beats, I will not let go of faith.
It may be that this belief is the difference between life and death, and the weight of that belief lies on my shoulders. That is a heavy burden to bear. But what if his life passes far too soon, and I were to learn later it didn’t have to happen, that it was because everyone remained passive while death pulled him into its irreversible power … What then? How could I live with that knowledge after it was too late?
So, despite fear of failure, I choose to take on the burden of making life happen. I don’t know that it will be successful, I don’t care if others think it is delusional …
I speak (silently) life into this person I love dearly. I treat him day-to-day as if he will live, not die. Because I believe it.
I believe it because I have chosen to believe it.
The day I finally managed this mindset, the following post passed my Facebook news feed, written by Dr. Eugene May:
4 August 2016
There was a day when the prophet Ezekiel was taken into the midst of a very desolate place, a valley of DRY BONES. The Lord asked, “Son of man, can these bones LIVE?” He could only answer, “O Lord God, You know” (Ezekiel 37:3). To Ezekiel, the situation that he faced was IMPOSSIBLE for man. Yet he did acknowledge that only God knew the answer.
There are times in our experiences when we wonder while looking into the face of the IMPOSSIBLE if God is able do anything about our circumstances. I think this is normal for folks like us. When challenged with the IMPOSSIBLE, we find it easy to throw up our hands and say, “CAN GOD DO IT?”
The Lord spoke to Ezekiel and gave him this instruction, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O DRY BONES, hear the word of the LORD!’” (Ezekiel 37:34). God saw the potential in the bones and what could be done through one person who would dare to speak life into the situation. We know the end of the story. The DRY BONES were resurrected and became a great army.
Child of God, you are in a unique position. God has chosen you to speak to the DRY BONES around you and say, “LIVE!” Oh, not literal DRY BONES, but God is asking you to speak into the situations in your life that seem to be IMPOSSIBLE. You have the power of the Holy Spirit in you and you can say, “LIVE.”
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
(Added May 2018): For anyone wondering how this story evolved:
https://cindigale.com/2016/10/07/a-time-to-mourn-and-a-time-to-dance/
Rough to read and more difficult to endure but keep on Cindi!
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God Bless you Alice and the rest of your family. My heart pours out to all of you. He is always in my prayers for him to return to his loving family soon.
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This comment is in reference to a share of this post.
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This post has been shared often; in case someone wonders, “Did he live?”, I refer you to a follow up post: https://cindigale.com/2016/10/07/a-time-to-mourn-and-a-time-to-dance/
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Reblogged this on Cindi Gale and commented:
Two years later, he continues to flourish.
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