A lot can transpire in the course of 15 hours! Yesterday morning at this time - 5:20
am - I was wide awake and bracing myself for some pretty significant unknowns, chiefly the extent and duration of my surgery, levels of post-op care and the expectation of serious discomfort that generally accompanies major surgery. To say that I am elated by what I avoided would surely be an understatement.
Searching for adequate terms to describe my sojourn as a guest at Methodist West, I think that the fruit of the Spirit most aptly covers it: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Every single encounter with the medical and support staff has exemplified these 9 fruits:
- LOVE pouring over me through the surgical team as we prayed before the operation;
- JOY of the sovereign variety as the Lord imparted His strength to me;
- The PEACE that surpasses all understanding as I was being prepped for surgery;
- PATIENCE as I am listening to my body to tell me how far to extend myself;
- The KINDNESS of every individual I have encountered in this consecrated place;
- The GOODNESS of the Lord in the land of the living as I awakened from the anesthesia and heard Dr. Bevers tell me how well everything went;
- The GENTLENESS of both pre- and post-op nursing care;
- The abiding FAITHFULNESS of my precious husband, son, friends Barb, Craig and Sue, Terry and Randall as they walked me through the day with prayer - coupled with continual prayer coverage from friends, family and even total strangers on six continents;
- SELF-CONTROL to reign in my thoughts and emotions as a tiny cloud of apprehension threatened to darken the horizon when I leaned on my own understanding just prior to the operation.
How glorious it is right now to once again be counting my blessings and naming them one by one!
- Surgery that lasted only 1 hour and 45 minutes rather than 6!
- Ice chips in the recovery room!
- Being rolled into a magnificent corner suite of two huge rooms, large bath and panoramic view, totally unexpected but greatly appreciated!
- Being able to eat strawberry jello and lemon sorbet within a few hours of surgery!
- Blowing the spirometer up past the top line time and time again!
- A surprise visit from my dear mentee Hannah, who was here for the birth of a friend's baby.
- Taking a little walk around 10 pm with no discomfort!
- My dear friend Barb keeping vigil over me through the night, with loads of laughter as we made up for years lived a thousand miles apart!
- NO post-op pain so far!!!
I am also elated by a visit I had with the head of chaplaincy at this hospital immediately following my pre-op tests on Wednesday. I shared with him about our chapel healing prayer services at St. Luke's - The Woodlands and at The Vintage - and he expressed a great interest in having us plant it here! The night before surgery, I put together a training folder for him and dropped it at his office before I jumped on the gurney for my surgical siesta.
How wonderful it is to give thanks to God! And I am praising Him for the gift of YOU, precious prayer warrior, knowing that your fervent and effectual prayers have availed much fruit as our Papa in heaven has so lavishly answered our cries for mercy and healing. Thank you for every heartfelt prayer as we press on together in Jesus' name.
Forever in His love,
Jan
