Many of you know that I am in San Francisco at the moment helping with my 83-year old father who went through a critical surgery yesterday. This has been a two-week ordeal since a botched surgery two weeks ago. The second surgery was an arduous and tenuous procedure demanding a top-notch specialist, which is why we are here. He came out of it as well as the doctors had hoped, but having had two major surgeries in the last two weeks, has taken its toll on him.
I love the way God slips in little things even at a time like this to let people know he’s around. Last night the night nurse came in to introduce herself. “I am Grace,” she said, “and I’ll be with you through the night.” That was pretty cool. Maybe all nurses should be named Grace, especially those who follow a major surgery.
Then this morning a new nurse took over. “My name is Hope and I’ll be taking over from Grace today.” I loved hearing that and it brought a smile to my face. Maybe half of the nurses should be named Grace and the other half Hope. Then there’s Goodness and Mercy too! I like being followed by them too.
Now Hope just came in. “Grace will be taking over again tonight.” It’s been a fun subtext to our day as I’ve watched my father get stronger and stronger with each passing hour. We’ve been surrounded by prayers and love. Hopefully it’s all uphill from here.
Incredible! Surrounded by Grace and Hope twenty-four hours a day! We all are you know. It just usually isn’t this obvious. But it would be my prayer for all of you reading this that you would find expressions of God’s hope and grace in whatever challenges you face.
He’s there, you know. As certain as the sun rising!
And who knows? Maybe Joy will come in the morning.
Wow, incredible! Isn’t God good and apparently so have Grace and Hope been. My two youngest girls middle names are Joy and Hope…after reading your post I think I’m going to start calling them by those wonderful middle names 🙂 And Lord willing, my next baby girl will be GRACE, who knows if she’ll be a nurse though 🙂 Thanks for sharing and prayers for a speedy and complete recover for you father. Blessings! -myra
Wow, incredible! Isn’t God good and apparently so have Grace and Hope been. My two youngest girls middle names are Joy and Hope…after reading your post I think I’m going to start calling them by those wonderful middle names 🙂 And Lord willing, my next baby girl will be GRACE, who knows if she’ll be a nurse though 🙂 Thanks for sharing and prayers for a speedy and complete recover for you father. Blessings! -myra
I want to hear that a nurse named Joy has come in to help you all at some point. Even if that doean’t happen….Joy is there also.
Praying for your dad and your family Wayne.
I want to hear that a nurse named Joy has come in to help you all at some point. Even if that doean’t happen….Joy is there also.
Praying for your dad and your family Wayne.
what a timely post…..lovely!
todd
what a timely post…..lovely!
todd
LOVE IT!!!
LOVE IT!!!
Wayne, may your dad continue to get stronger and better with Hope and Grace hovering over him. Keep us informed as one of our family members struggles to regain his vitality…
Wayne, may your dad continue to get stronger and better with Hope and Grace hovering over him. Keep us informed as one of our family members struggles to regain his vitality…
God never seems to do nice stuff like that for me. I’ve been seriously ill for nearly 4 years and am bedbound. Health-wise all my insides are completely messed up. I don’t feel loved by God at all. I know he must love me but I have no experience of it. He hasn’t let me know that he’s there amidst the pain. I know in my head that he cares but don’t feel like it. The thing that happened to you in hospital with the nurses is great. He must like you more than he likes me!!
God never seems to do nice stuff like that for me. I’ve been seriously ill for nearly 4 years and am bedbound. Health-wise all my insides are completely messed up. I don’t feel loved by God at all. I know he must love me but I have no experience of it. He hasn’t let me know that he’s there amidst the pain. I know in my head that he cares but don’t feel like it. The thing that happened to you in hospital with the nurses is great. He must like you more than he likes me!!
One of my best friends has a mom named Joy (who is a nurse in Florida)!
One of my best friends has a mom named Joy (who is a nurse in Florida)!
UKgirl,
I almost didn’t post this because I knew there would be people like you who felt like God hasn’t done similar in their lives. But I wouldn’t have posted it if I believed that. There are lots of ways God makes himself known, especially in the midst of our pain. I think it mostly goes unrecognized, especially when pain overwhelms us. I am convinced he reveals his love to all and would encourage you to pray for yourself as i am praying for you, that the eyes of your heart will be opened to see Father’s love right in the midst of your own struggle. Because I have no doubt he is loving you. It just may not be in the way you are expecting or hoping. But he is there. He loves me not one speck more than he loves you. But I do understand how hard that can be to see given your circumstance. But he is bigger still.
Wayne
UKgirl,
I almost didn’t post this because I knew there would be people like you who felt like God hasn’t done similar in their lives. But I wouldn’t have posted it if I believed that. There are lots of ways God makes himself known, especially in the midst of our pain. I think it mostly goes unrecognized, especially when pain overwhelms us. I am convinced he reveals his love to all and would encourage you to pray for yourself as i am praying for you, that the eyes of your heart will be opened to see Father’s love right in the midst of your own struggle. Because I have no doubt he is loving you. It just may not be in the way you are expecting or hoping. But he is there. He loves me not one speck more than he loves you. But I do understand how hard that can be to see given your circumstance. But he is bigger still.
Wayne
I heard a true story about a woman who has two dogs. Their names are Goodness and Mercy. The dogs love their master so much that they never want to leave her. When she goes to get the mail, Goodness and Mercy follow her. When she wakes up in the morning Goodness and Mercy are waiting for her. So literally Goodness and Mercy follow her all day long.
I heard a true story about a woman who has two dogs. Their names are Goodness and Mercy. The dogs love their master so much that they never want to leave her. When she goes to get the mail, Goodness and Mercy follow her. When she wakes up in the morning Goodness and Mercy are waiting for her. So literally Goodness and Mercy follow her all day long.
Thanks for sharing your story of God’s encouragement to you. It encouraged me too.
Thinking of you – and your Dad and the family and friends connected to you both.
Thanks for sharing your story of God’s encouragement to you. It encouraged me too.
Thinking of you – and your Dad and the family and friends connected to you both.
I love this story, thanks.
Anna from Norway
I love this story, thanks.
Anna from Norway
Wonderful! I liked the way you ended it, too. And even if Joy (a nurse) doesn’t come in the morning, joy (in Papa) will!
Wonderful! I liked the way you ended it, too. And even if Joy (a nurse) doesn’t come in the morning, joy (in Papa) will!
What a neat happening!!!
Faith and hope, eh? but the greatest of these is …..
What a neat happening!!!
Faith and hope, eh? but the greatest of these is …..
When I had my kidney stone I think the nurses name was Crank. 😉
When I had my kidney stone I think the nurses name was Crank. 😉
B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.! Thank you for sharing that wonderful story! And what a great great title in itself: When Grace Gives Way to Hope and Hope Gives Way to More Grace. WORD TO THAT! Oh beautiful!
Thanks again bro for sharing! xo
B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.! Thank you for sharing that wonderful story! And what a great great title in itself: When Grace Gives Way to Hope and Hope Gives Way to More Grace. WORD TO THAT! Oh beautiful!
Thanks again bro for sharing! xo
Thats so beautiful!! WoW, i love your openness to GOD and how HE shows you so much. The nurses, that is the encouragement I was looking for tonight. Even in the midst of such a chaotic family crisis, Hope and Grace show up!!
God bless you and your loved ones…
Thats so beautiful!! WoW, i love your openness to GOD and how HE shows you so much. The nurses, that is the encouragement I was looking for tonight. Even in the midst of such a chaotic family crisis, Hope and Grace show up!!
God bless you and your loved ones…