“60?” I asked.
“Ma’am, if I had waited this long, 60 days is nothing…”
She laughed softly, as if amused by the strength and in the way those words were stated to her ears.
“I understand,” she replied…
I had been waiting for some help I needed to fight the decisions made for me by some people who sat on higher positions from my work. They were determined to end my career because I did not and could not obey their demands. It had been a little over a year now since my battle began. My working hours were reduced. I was placed on a shift that I never wanted but worked it as I couldn’t do anything at that time but waited for this help. I knew the process would be long. It could be exhausting. Evidenced by many before me who failed to state their cases. Known by others that those people either chose to quit or just accepted their fate of leaving Correctional Nursing. Slapped with wrong motives, unfair treatments, and abuse of power.
I wanted to take the same route at first. But when I asked in prayers, I was reminded that any trial that came in my journey, even this one, was never unnoticed by the Highest Authority.
There is no trial that never goes through His hands!
And I chose to believe. If I learned patience before, this process made me learn patience even more. It was tough. But at the same time, my heart and mind were like branches being pruned to be prepared for another season. I was hungry for His quick justice. Except…The answer might not come quick.
Knowing how God brought me from the hospital when I hurt my neck in 1997 and how He placed me in a Correctional setting and blessed me tremendously both physically and spiritually, I knew I must trust. No matter what the outcome would be.. I would always choose to believe that He has the best reasons why things happened. Even with those not so nice ones. This trial that I thought would be hard to overcome as if a big mountain on my path was nothing compared to the Mountain Who granted me and anyone who believed His victory!
"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." – Matthew 17:20 (NLT)
I thank God I have a Mediator through Christ in every trial that comes my way. I know justice will come. Not in my time. In God’s perfect time…
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – 2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV)
Lord, thank You for Your grace and mercy. I know that I can't do anything with my own strength. I thank You that through trials, You remind me to depend on You more and completely put my trust in no one but You. I know that I don't see things clearly and I don't see the whole picture. Grant me Lord Your eyes that I may see things the way You see them. Give me Your heart that readily forgives so I may be able to forgive those who hurt me. Thank You Lord for Your provisions despite the hardship these people tried to inflict me with. Thank You for reminding me through Your Word that no matter what people plan, it is You Who always direct my steps. I praise You Lord. And I ask that You also strengthen my family, friends, and blogging friends and help us all with all the trials we are facing. Please protect us. Empower us with Your Spirit. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
"Hi dad, i'm in nyc! bike marathon. tell u more later." ...the middle eastern gate of heaven ><+>
ReplyDelete"What's going on?" I texted back.
....I'll meet you just inside ><+>
"I'm staying in Times Square and going to Dave Matthews concert FREE.
Then 6 am tomorrow, starts a 100 mile bike ride in all boroughs of nyc.
We start in central park at 6. Love ya." ...the middle eastern gate of heaven ><+>
"Be safe while having fun. I will exercise today too. Right now, I will open and close the fridge door. Love Dad :-D "
.....I'll meet you just inside ><+>
"If you're bored, you can look it up on Google. Check New York Century"
...the middle eastern gate of heaven ><+>
And with that series of text messages, I learned my daughter would ride her bike in NYC with nearly 5,800 other folks. Some would do 15, 35, 55, 75 miles, seeing partial parts of New York. My girl would do the full run of 100 miles, and text me pictures of her route and new sights.
In effect, I went with her.
But I had taken her to NYC dozens of times in the past (when I lived in eastern PA and it was a quick jaunt across New Jersey) She knew the best spots to go.
I always end my emails, cards, letters, texts with "I'll meet you just inside..." and my girls always end theirs to me with the ending of a phrase, something we have shared since we read in bed at night, with me telling stories to them as children. They always end messages to me with their part;
"the middle eastern gate of heaven"
My younger added ><+> one time and I asked what it was.
She said it was the sign of a Christian "fish" in text lingo.
We have added it ever since.
She texted pictures all day of Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan, Central Park, the Uni-sphere (ALL stainless steel globe of the Earth Dad). I felt old.
It was from the 1964 World's Fair in NYC.
She actually finished the New York Century doing all 100 miles and then some, viewing all 5 boroughs, in a way tourists can not see.
My mind drifted back to the years when she liked gymnastics and had 3 separate places for lessons every week. I remember her on the balance beam, or on those ropes in the air, twirling and spinning. Or even the uneven bars skipping up and down and around.
She told me of pain one day, and I took her to the doctor. He sent her to a therapist. He massaged for several months. One time, we finished and got in the car. She told me "Dad, every time we come here, it feels good on my back when I am here, but the pain comes as soon as we leave"
"Do you take your pain meds?"
"No. If I do, I feel no pain and I can't tell him where it hurts as he massages".
We got out of the car and went back in. I told the therapist what my daughter told me. He resigned immediately and sent us back to the family doctor. HE in turn, sent us to the Shriner's Hospital...giving me great concern. They x-ray'd her from head to toe, and asked if I would release her to the Cleveland Clinic.
I will never forget the doctor having a wall sized x-ray of my daughter, and running his finger down her spine on the lighted x-ray.
"Follow my finger" he said. "Note her spine continues from here to here".
Now he stopped part way down.
Light was shining through, and he looked at me as if he expected me to know what that meant.
"Her spine is broken at the point light is coming through".
I collapsed on a nearby wall and went to the floor in disbelief.
I had watched her doing Olympic like gymnastics for years.
The doctor was at a loss that she could even walk.
----A 2 part comment for you Rosel...
~~~ continued...
ReplyDeleteA $2,500 body brace to hold her in place was next, then Cleveland Clinic, then back to Shriners. I never saw so many doctors in my life.
"How do you think it happened?" I asked her one day.
Did you fall from the balance beam?"
"No dad, it was on a floor exercise. I knew when I landed it wasn't right"
I got furious at a therapist professional massaging and failing to detect a BROKEN back, in 6 months, for cryin out loud! He heard from me again!
"Honey, we have seen so many doctors and all say different things.
It is time for you and I to pray to the Master Physician and stop the pain"
We prayed aloud for the next 45 minutes to an hour.
On the next hospital visit, they x-rayed full body again.
The doctors gathered around the x-ray and mumbled to one another.
Finally, they requested my permission to x-ray her again.
I was concerned with the mammoth amount of radiation for each x-ray on a young girl, but the doctor said it would be the last one. Fine.
Two doctors looked at the latest x-ray. They called in a 3rd and 4th doctor, all of them mumbling to one another, and shaking their heads, "No". Then, the main doctor asked me to come over.
"I asked to take a second x-ray today to verify there is nothing wrong with our machine. Our x-ray machine is fine. The results from the Cleveland Clinic came back too. Do you remember me tracing my finger down the spine bone and coming to where light showed through?"
"I'll never forget that" said I.
"Well, here is that x-ray and you can see the light and missing bone in the spine. And here, is the x-ray we just took" It was wall sized, and hanging right next to the original.
"Follow my finger again"
The doctor started at the top of her spine, and traced all the way down.
No light came through anywhere. The bone was solid.
They had called doctor after doctor to come in and explain this and no one could. (I was getting alarmed watching so many approach, shake their heads in disbelief, but I interpreted with alarm).
"There is nothing wrong with your daughter's spine.
Take off that cast. She can go home".
The enormity of what he said was softly entering my mind, and my daughter heard all and was beaming smiles, that she could take the cast off. Only TWO people in the room were NOT baffled; my daughter and I. We KNEW what had happened. God showed up again.
All of this years ago trauma came through my mind in a flash, as I was now hearing of New York Century, and biking 100 miles in 1 day.....
on a back that one time was missing bone to connect a complete spine.
Fast forward again:
Her proudest picture?
A smiling young woman crossing the finish line! She was beaming ear-to-ear. Then, she added it was another 4 miles biking back to the hotel.
All of this in a single day.
He will fix what is broken, Rosel, and you will complete the race of a lifetime.
How do I know?
I SAW Him do it already!
The Holy Spirit was preparing Fruit for me.......Patience.
It is the hardest of the 9 Fruit, to obtain.
Keystone, thank you for sharing this wonderful miracle of your daughter's healing from our merciful God! Glory be to Him! That was awesome and as if I could see the doctors running out of all known medical theories (and they did and still couldn't explain the last result)! How low did their jaws dropped to the ground? :)
DeleteIf not for my previous trials, I wouldn't have this hope, this strength, this comfort, I could go on and on...Because it was always His faithfulness that soothed me, reminded me, and comforted me. Patience...Indeed is hard to learn! Then again, He sustains us with everything we need in order for us to learn...What love!
God bless Keystone and thank you again for your encouragement and prayers! I loved those text messages!!!
Hello sweet Rosel. I haven't been able to visit in a LONG time. I wondered what the status was with all that has happened with you at work. I see things are still in limbo. Sigh. I pray resolution will come soon.
DeleteGod bless you as you continue to be a light for Him.
Love and hugs,
Beth
http://mydestinysharinghope.com/
Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteYour posts are always so inspiring to me. I especially needed this one today. to be reminded He is with me through all trials. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteRosel perfect timing. Always you have something of great value to share with us all. For this thank you! Blessings dear one.
ReplyDeleteYour faith is so strong and it will take you through this.
ReplyDeleteHi RCubes -
ReplyDeleteThis is a precious read. Your faith and trust in our Lord is such a boost. Thank you, dear lady of GOD for cleaving to our awesome Father who shall never fail us or forsake us. And GOD always wins.
Dearest Rosel
DeleteThough the battle is long, don't grow weary in the fight, and don't lose your song in the night!
Still walking down this road with you...
Love
Lidia