When the doctors began warning me in early December that Dan’s struggle with GBS was going to be “a long haul,” they didn’t tell me (indeed I don’t think anyone suspected) that it would be a long haul pulling a wagon full of rocks that keep falling off.
That’s happened in the last couple of days. People say, two steps forward, one step back, but it’s more accurate to say with Dan’s “fragile” health that it’s five steps forward, four steps back. He is running a fever again, white count up, urinary tract infection, possible other issues in his abdomen. Please pray.
It was in the midst of this that someone I’ve never met, a very accomplished and well-published author Diane Stortz, wrote me that she’d been following this blog and had distilled some of the things I’d said which helped her. The blog is http://abibleplace.blogspot.com/2012/02/do-you-know-where-your-hope-is.html
Reading her blog reminded me of a time I was sitting in church and saw a handwritten phrase in front of our daughter Celeste’s open Bible. It was very helpful and meaningful for me, sitting and partaking at that moment of the Lord’s Supper. Imagine my surprise when she told me it was a quote from one of my books. The same thing happened as I was reading Diane’s blog. I REALLY, REALLY needed to hear affirmations of faith yesterday.
I guess that’s because what I said two months ago was true then and is true now, no matter how frustrating the process is. We humans forget things, even important things, when our bodies and our time are clamoring for our attention.
I am reminded of the fact that God commanded the Israelites who crossed the Red Sea to have an annual remembrance ceremony in which they recounted everything that had happened, and how faithful God had been to them.
Of course Jews even today do the same thing every year. See the commandment in Deuteronomy 6:21-25. This phrase, “I was a slave in Egypt,” is repeated not only at Passover all over the world by heads of Jewish families today; the same thought was echoed in a speech by then-president of Israel, Weitzman, in 1996 when invited to address both legislative bodies of the Federal Republic of Germany: “Only one hundred fifty generations have passed from the Pillar of Fire of the Exodus from Egypt to the pillars of smoke from the Holocaust. And I, a descendant of Abraham, born in Abraham’s country, have witnessed them all. I was a slave in Egypt. I received the Torah at Mount Sinai. Together with Joshua and Elijah, I crossed the Jordan River. I entered Jerusalem with David, was exiled from it with Zedekiah, and did not forget it by the rivers of Babylon. When the Lord returned the captives of Zion, I dreamed among the builders of its ramparts. I fought the Romans and was banished from Spain. I was bound to the stake in Mainz. I studied Torah in Yemen and lost my family in Kishinev. I was incinerated in Treblinka, rebelled in Warsaw, and emigrated to the Land of Israel, the country whence I had been exiled and where I had been born, from which I come and to which I return.” (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs official Web site: http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH01eh0 )
So, Diane borrowed my faithful words, and I borrowed them back. Help yourselves, dear friends. Though I don’t respond to your comments here or on Facebook (it is literally impossible for me to have the hours in the day to do that, and I apologize), I love you, treasure your support, and am happy to help build your faith upon the crucible of this situation. Give God all the glory. He deserves that, more than we could ever imagine.
Am saying an extra prayer for Danny today. This whole process has been emotionally draining for all of you. I want so much for him to begin getting better. I want to be able to see him, and us joke and kid with each other again. I pray that this illness be lifted from him, and that a good man be able to have his life back again.
Pete
Praying just as strong today as the first day!
Latayne,
Our hearts and prayers continue from Amarillo. Long-distance technology is great but today we wish we could be there to give you a hug, share our energy and some face-to-face encouragement during this long, demanding journey.
While we pray for Dan’s stamina and healing, we stand in awe and give thanks for His strength that’s so empowering and so alive in you both! May He continue to pour out ‘grace upon grace’ to you today!
Love in Christ,
Jackie (and Ben)
That quotation from Weitzman gave me chills. We need each other. You have been running a long race.
When Jesus said, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” I think it was as simple as our bodies get weary. I learned that taking my son into anesthesia preceding a risky surgery. I felt calm but tears were streaming down my face. I was exhausted. As I fought to hold back the tears that seemed to leak out of me I thought of that verse and got it as a simple fact, no condemnation.
During the surgery I went back to our hotel room in the hospital and called my mom. She prayed over the phone for me and then I slept for hours. We missed the first check in with the surgeon. He couldn’t believe I had been able to sleep but I had been praying and fasting for a year. What I needed that morning was sleep.
Please take good care of yourself, Latayne. Try to rest as you are able. Let yourself take breaks. You’re in this for the long haul and no one can tell you exactly how long that is.
We’ll keep praying for everything.
Latayne,we love you and we are praying for Dan .The word of God is our comfort and it brings us peace to face each day.
The friendship we have shared with you and Dan has been a blessing from God.Both of you are in our hearts daily.
Com mucho carino mi hermana. Lita
I just wanted you all to know that I check this blog every day for news of Dan. I have not stopped praying, just wanted you to know.
Hi Latayne and Dan,
Love, love, love to you!
1Peter1:6,7
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honow at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Praying for you:) We miss you 2.
Adrianne
Latayne, We check the blog every evening . . . . praying, praying, praying for Dan’s healing and your strength. Miss Dan in chuch leading singing, & walking up and down the aisles!!!! : ) : ) Love Gail and Vernon
I have been thinking that you are experiencing Crisis Crucible of Praise II for awhile now. Your love for Dan is enhanced by your strength, love and true faith in God. You are a great and wonderful encouragement even as we give you our encouragement and love. Pray always for Dan and you and the family. Love Vicki
I’m glad my words came at a good time for you! I do hope we can meet someday. Continued prayers for you and Dan.