Dear Prayer Warriors,
Thanks for your prayers over the last few weeks! God lovingly helped us through our emotions and Simon's birthday. Life got in the way a bit. I returned early from being with Lindsey because Anna needed intervention all day long. She had been pooling large amounts of mucus in her throat and once her airway was bothered by it, out it comes at a fast rate. No match for the suction machine. Pray for Anna, as she is still not baseline. For about a week now we have reduced her overnight feed to 50% of the normal rate to avoid those mucus episodes and night. She has lost a couple of pounds because of all this (and she ain’t got pounds to spare). Pray for wisdom for us as her illnesses are largely a guessing game based on what we observe. Shoot let's go for the logical best-case, faith-filled conclusion: pray that Anna could speak to tell us what is causing her pain and discomfort, moreover for her complete healing and healthy neurological connections.
Right now (Friday night) this is all coming to a head. I am in the ER with Anna because we missed clinic hours and we suspect a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Her urine started smelling bad. The last time she had a UTI she had seizures with it. Instead of waiting till Monday we got her in. What a gift from God to be in a city that has this kind of care available anytime. Mom’s hunch was praised by the doctors, Anna was diagnosed with another UTI and so Anna and I went home with antibiotics.
We listened to a little Rend Collective on the way home from the hospital and they sang about Jesus being the binder of our wounds, the comforter to those who mourn, He gives hope to breathe again, the One who sets us on our feet again, even in the darkness He’s beautiful, even in the shadows He loves you still. “What’s true in the light is still true in the dark.” As that washed over my mind. I turned down the music and talked to Anna, this time the Holy Spirit invited me to pray too. This was the thought I prayed to the Lord.
“Father, where would my faith be if it wasn’t for Anna? It seems that nothing keeps me interceding at Your feet more than her, her needs can overwhelm. She’s a portion of the yoke You asked me to take up with my bride. Not we, but Christ in us. You God! You are the equipper, the enabler, the power within us. All this for sweet Anna pie without repayment and with a cheerful attitude what grace you give God. I praise you God. I wouldn’t know you this way if it weren’t for Anna. You are not only a great Physician but a tremendous caretaker.
It’s another Friday night, date night, movie night, relax and unwind night for the normal world, yet I’m leaving the hospital. I feel victorious because we have a direction and medication to restore her, and heal, thank you. There is no place I’d rather be than on my way home praising You.
I remember my sister in the Lord once told me “sometimes I wish I had Anna because she is like a tether keeping you in the throne room of the Lord.” Father, I can safely conclude that I would not have been able to trust You through the loss of Simon had You not already been working heavily on us through Anna. Had You healed Anna within the first 8 years of her life like I asked and wanted so many times, that tether cord would have been cut. I would have counted my miraculous blessings and moved on. Perhaps I would have been minced meat before Satan on that day in early July when Simon got bit by the snake. But no, by your spiritual formation of me I knew to pray and not relent, to stay tethered to You God. I knew to bring God’s Word into every hospital room and keep it at the forefront of Simon’s mind in those days of his dying. I remembered how soothing to the heart singing was at Anna’s birth and so we sang and sang and sang.
In Your wisdom, that tether is still not cut Lord, Anna is still here and so am I at your feet. Keep meeting our needs, keep opening doors, keep softening our hearts until you see it fit for full healing. Amen."
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3 NLT
Sunday night update: Anna is now up to 80% of her normal feeding rate and much more animated.
Praise God for:
-The encouragement people gave us during Simon's birthday.
Please pray for:
-Anna’s respite worker Chrystal who is midway through reading a kid’s version of A Pilgrim’s Progress to Anna. She is enthralled at the story asking Lindsey where to find this in the Bible.
-Renee’s birthday is coming up this Wednesday the 15th. We are going to celebrate. We got some extended family coming in! Renee’s excitement is contagious and comically sweet. “I want purple and pink and red and brown and blue frosting.” We look to be met with joy and encouragement.
-Renee’s heart as she has expressed missing Simon in words wishing he could come to her birthday party. More recently she asked “How old was I when Simon died?”
Love,
Nic
