Wednesday, April 26, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Surgery in the springtime
I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. This is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.
I get out and walk around and around my car. Just a little exercise. It’s 7 am, and the Travis County Tax Office opens at 8. Because so much of Texas business was conducted from our cars during covid, I’ve just stayed in the habit. I’m first in line, but already there are cars and pickups lining up behind me. I keep walking.
I’m here to get a disability placard for our car. We’ve had one of those since Margaret’s heart surgery in 2021. Since our car is registered in Illinois we have to get it renewed every six months, so when it’s that time again I head out early into the sun (well, today it’s into the gloom) to Pluegerville and the tax office.
Today there’s a bit of a bridle in my mouth as I sit here waiting. Last night my doctor in Champaign called me personally (that’s always a little scary) and told me I have a severe valvular aortic stenosis, which probably will require surgery. Maybe I’ll need that disability placard myself this time. Dr. Deem didn’t want to worry me; he just wants to keep me alive awhile longer. And the surgery he expected me to be offered in Austin was almost laproscopic. Really? A heart valve replacement through a little slit in my chest?
Well, we’ll see. If that’s the way it goes I guess I won’t be out of commission for long. We have a family trip to Port Aransas on the Gulf planned for late May, a trip like the one we made last year about the same time to the soft sticky sandy beach and the sound of waves, all day, all night, and our imaginations full of fish just waiting to be caught and released, and caught again. Maybe I’ll get to go, and watch Miles and Jasper jump for joy.
He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot. Therefore let us rejoice in him. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
For now it’s Margaret who is sick, with some miserable bronchitis, which I had and then Jasper had and then his mom had and now Margaret has. Not covid, not the flu, not allergies, but the word “bronchitis” is still quite a catchall. Be patient. Be a good patient. Let the healing come to you.
Margaret sleeps and coughs and sleeps and coughs, and I pray for her. There are prayers that flow best through your hands, I think. Those are always best for her, especially right now. As the special ed teacher asked, “Would you like to be heard, helped or hugged?” How about all three, Lord? But especially right now, just hug her and make her whole. And me too, Lord.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, sing praises to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds?”
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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