Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

Friday, June 18, 2021                          (today’s lectionary)

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up treasures in heaven.

Many of these past long days, at the hospital and then coming home, I think of Bill and Gloria Gaither’s musical celebrations that they called “All Day Singin’ at the Dome.” Margaret and I attended several of these musical-educational-inspirational extravaganzas in Indianapolis, and every time we were bowled over by the happiness in the halls, the joy in the music that seemed to be everywhere, and the nearness of God, celebrating along with us. Old-timers and young performers admired each other, sang together in glorious ad-hoc groups, and their gratitude and generosity abounded. Here’s a little taste.

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name.

Well, yesterday was the longest day yet. Margaret’s surgery began early and ended late. She left Room 350 at 5:30 am and got to ICU Room A-2 about 8:50 pm. Seton procedure allowed me to be with her during the morning pre-op though, so for an hour and a half or so we read a devotion, prayed, told more jokes, and complained about being uncomfortable on the bed. One of the nurses reminded us to kiss and hug, so we did!

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.

Her pre-op nurse Zetta has worked at Seton for 41½ years. Seton employees stay put – we’ve heard that over and over. My West Texas buddy Casey’s wife worked at Seton for 13 years (I think) and loved it. She said the philosophy then was that “we will treat each of our patients as if we were treating Jesus Christ himself.”

Well, that’s Biblical, and a wonderful sentiment, and I think it’s a reality now, at least in our experience. I am so glad to be in this hospital system, at this time.

That said, Dr. Neely told me tonight (at 8 pm) that he thinks the operation deserves an A minus. Margaret’s heart was unrelentingly strong through the whole thing. Resecting and reconstructing the areas that were badly infected went really well. They had problems at the beginning inserting an arterial IV, and then a problem at the end stopping bleeding at one spot. He was able to insert two gauze pads in that spot, and now the bleeding has stopped. If it stays stopped and begins to clot, then late tomorrow or Saturday he’ll go back in and remove the gauze. That means another small operation, back in the OR, but really … given all that could have happened today, no wonder he gave it an A. Happy I am.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

If I understood him right, they won’t be removing her sedation for awhile yet. She’ll stay asleep in ICU at least till late morning tomorrow. I know she’d like hearing that. The less time she has to be conscious of the pain that she’ll be feeling everywhere, the better.

Her nurse Kelly just called and said she’s doing fine. No blood showing in the drainage tube in her chest. (Can you imagine having a drainage tube in your chest?) If things go well they’ll take out her breathing tube in the morning.

In 2017 Margaret had a surgery similar to this one, and I watched them remove the breathing tube. I think I’ll skip it this time. I am really proud of Margaret. I bet you are too. She is quite a trooper.

It’s good to feel God’s blessing when it gives you goosebumps, right? That’s happening to me right now.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(2 Corinthians 11, Psalm 34, Matthew 5, Matthew 6)

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