The Word is to the Preacher First!

Today is the 30th day of November, 2009! Tomorrow we enter December and like a flash of light 2009 will fade away. I can’t say that I will miss many of the events that transpired this year – it has been one of my most challenging years! I look forward to a fresh start in 2010 – and hold fast to the promise that “my tomorrows will be better than my yesterdays have been.” And yet, even with all the challenges I have so much to thank God for that I would be amiss to say that I see God’s Hand and Handiwork in every one of those yesterdays!

It wasn’t one week into 2009 when my oldest son and his wife and daughter moved in with me because they had a fire that demolished their house – I went to a conference, fell out of an elevator and tore my rotary cuff on my left arm in four places – I was in New York and was rushed through the streets of New York in an ambulance, where I was only given simple medication to deal with the overwhelming pain. I still had four days of my conference to go – before I returned home – needless to say – it was an interesting way to begin the year. I will probably bore you with the drama that followed this, but here goes – going to one doctor, then another, then another…needing surgery, not getting it – having to postpone my knee replacement surgery because the arm was jacked up – therapy, more doctors – x-rays, a whole new set of doctors – a new appointment date for my knee surgery – then having to postpone that – in the midst, my daughter, her husband, and my three grands moved away – another child in another state – new experience for me – six months into the year -I went to more doctors than I had ever been to in my life – and more therapy – and dealt with more pain – and then July 2nd – the event I had been waiting for – the surgery – more pain – more therapy – more waiting — then back to work – and my Dad falls very ill – rushing to try to work too many jobs – trying to still heal- trying to see about my Dad – and juggle all the other things in my life – my Dad passes – being the oldest – too much business to handle – work overload – way behind – down to today – in need of a vacation…

And yet – the other side of the coin – God brought me through the trial with my rotary cuff, I regained almost full use my left arm. The change in the medical plan resulted in me having one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the city – and my knee replacement surgery has proved in countless ways to be a second chance at mobility! I have made it through all the challenges of my many jobs – and in a couple of weeks I will end my current semester teaching at two universities – and rejoicing over the opportunity to touch so many young teachers with what I have learned over the years! My Dad made his transition, but in peace, and for that I am eternally grateful. There is always work – there are always challenges – but my family is healthy, whole, blessed, and growing! And best of all, I am encouraged that God was not only my deliverer, healer, strength, encourager, but He was also my friend – sometimes silent – sometimes gently talking to me – sometimes reminding me – sometimes correcting me – but always there…

I wrote HeartLife not just for you, but the Word was for me first… I hope it blessed you, like it blessed me!

Kairos,
Maria