I’ve been praying recently that if
there were anything wrong with John medically that he would find it
out so that he could be treated. Like every Christian wife, I want
my husband to be with me as long as possible, and my husband thinks
that if you’re not asymptomatic, you’re okay. This is not always
true. We’ve been having this debate about him having a stress test
and he has been using that line.
My prayer was answered dramatically June 25 – 28, 2011, when John
had a severe, sudden onslaught of pain when we were visiting family
in California. After hours in the emergency room, we were told he
had severe, acute pancreatitis caused by gallstones. His
pancreatitis was so serious that the doctors were concerned for his
survival, and I sent out requests for prayers for John.
I am so thankful to be a part of the body of Christ that loves each
other and is united in prayer and faith in God and willing to serve.
I know that brothers and sisters across the country were praying,
and the results were obvious to me. His pancreas responded well, his
blood pressure was finally controlled better than it had been, and
John got the cardiac evaluation I had been praying for — stress test
and all. Eventually he was able to have his gall bladder taken out
so this won’t happen again.
So many good things have come out of something “bad” and painful (Romans 8:28). We know we were united
with brothers and sisters in prayer, and God acted (John 5:15 –16) and this has built our
faith and encouraged us. My sister jokes about John’s new weight
loss diet — five days of IVs and no food. We have however learned to
hopefully listen to our bodies and will take better care of them in
the future. We have experienced the comfort and peace of being in
the Lord, and the joy of fellowship with God and with brothers and
sisters (1 Corinthians 1:3 – 5).
We have learned again that we can’t control our future or even know
if we have one (John 4:13 –17). All
is in His hands and in His time. We have been clearly reminded not
to trust ourselves or our plans (Proverbs
16:3), but to live in the present with joy and gratitude for
everything we have and everyone we love.
— Cynthia Clayton
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