Dear Prayer Warriors,
Thank you for praying and reading. Anna is doing good, she’s healthy
and joyful. Praise the Lord for the large number of healthy days Anna has had.
In writing the previous update, I remember praying about what
to write because all acute medical problems remain away from us. The topic ended up being about believing God
for full healing and praying through unbelief. The following day I was attacked
by vivid thoughts of Anna’s passing. Almost like our asking for full healing
was only going to happen by her passing. The phrase “be careful what you wished
for” kept taunting me. What fear gripped me for an afternoon. I remember crying
out to God, pleading the protection of Christ over this spiritual attack. I
knew I was being deceived and tempted to forsake God. I also was reminded to
not covet healing through this experience. then God in His grace, reminded me
of how many hardships He brought us through, and how He has placed Anna in our
care for His glory and will always give us what we need to meet her needs.
Today I wanted to share my experiences in training to become
Anna’s caretaker officially. I completed the Certified Nurse Assistant program,
thanks be to God. The state board exam is coming in early December. The journey
included two ten hour shifts in a nursing home. So much of what the residents
endure there challenged my faith. I have never thought much about end of life
care and even less about what the nurses go through to meet the needs there. I
was so impressed by the CNA I was training with, he had such a focus,
professionalism, and sense of service (not bad for an 18-year-old).
On the sweet side, I had conversations with residents about God’s
faithfulness through the years, I enjoyed hearing how some served Him so well. The
reality of my experience was more about meeting basic needs, cleaning, and caring
for 8 residents one after the other. So many call lights to follow up with. It made
me think of how God responds to all of our call lights simultaneously, and how
He replies graciously by giving to those who cannot repay Him. Perhaps my heart
looked more like my Savior’s that weekend as I served those who could not pay
me back. It’s a noble job to preserve dignity and “the image of God” in those
with failing minds and bodies. Humility is a two-way street at the nursing
home. I was thankful when it was over because it felt like something far removed
from my goal of taking care of Anna. In thinking about it some more, I do give
the same care for Anna that I did for the old folks: I dress her, bathe her, lift
her, reposition her, feed her, and change her diapers it just seemed so different.
On my way to class one day, I heard a pastor on the radio
respond to a caller asking him how she can know if her special needs brothers
are saved. I wrestled with this thought probably two years ago regarding Anna and
never considered what the pastor suggested. In the simplest of ways, he
referenced Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than
any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Without knowing
the specifics, the pastor said “read the Bible to them.” And from within me
came the conviction to reprioritize this in my time with Anna. So please pray
with me that the Holy Spirit would remind me to read the Bible to Anna that He
would work through this seemingly little act to make anna rejoice in the God of
her Salvation. I fully trust Jesus for her salvation and I cling to specific Bible
passages regarding His provision of salvation for the lame. What a wonderful savior.
Please Pray for:
-the spiritual strengthening of our family devotion times now
that I am home again at night.
-the continuation of good health and increasing ability for
Anna.
-adaptive toys that would engage Anna to use her hands and
eyes.
- the health of baby #3 as we enter the third trimester and
for a safe delivery.
-a friend to come alongside her and spend time getting to
know her.
Thanks in the name of Jesus,
The Currat’s
1 comment:
Nic, I always appreciate the way you share your spiritual journey. I was struck by your comment that you feared Anna would only be healed in heaven. I don't believe that God will take her sooner than He would have, just because you prayed for healing for Anna. But I do believe that NONE of us will ever be completely healed of our imperfections while we live on earth. Physical ailments are part of the human condition, as are psychological problems, because of humanity's fall from grace. God provides us the means we need to live with our ailments and/or flaws. Sometimes He even heals them. Our job is, as you said, to serve others and ease their afflictions, but also to praise God in spite of our trials. When we do that, we truly bring glory to God. You have tremendous faith, and I admire that. But for me, the idea that we will only be fully healed in heaven is not frightening. It is AMAZING. To think that we can one day shed our imperfect selves, and truly become perfectly like God, as He intended for us to be, is awesome.
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