WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US TODAY?
Don and I got up early and drove an hour to Urgent Care so we would be there when they opened.
As we drove to Santa Cruz, Don prayed, “What do you have for us today, Lord?”
I know—I’m interrupting my series on writing a first novel to give glory to God for a recent occurrence. Not for sympathy, but to thank God for His watchful care.
“You need to be seen within 24 hours.”
One stye had grown to two. While I’ve had styes before, they’ve been infrequent. When I put hot compresses on my eyes, I got dizzy. Finally, the day before I’m writing about, I asked my doctor for a prescription for my eye. She replied that I needed to be seen within 24 hours.
Hmmm, I’ve never done that with a stye before. Hence, the early morning trip the following day.
Other than leaving Urgent Care for one appointment for Don, we were in Urgent Care from 8:00 am until 6:30 pm. The doctor listened to my symptoms and ordered a plethora of tests, and an ultrasound “just in case.”
Is There a Plan Here?
As I went through some of the last tests, I asked, “Lord, I came in for a stye. Why are we going through all these tests? Do you have a plan in this?”
Photo credit: erhii_bobyk on Freepik
But the last test, the one the doctor ordered “just in case,” showed I have deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot blocking a whole vein in one leg, and part of the other. She suspected some small clots had broken off and gone to my lungs, but they couldn’t tell for sure because my veins were too dehydrated to get an IV in.
I’m now on a blood thinner to break up the clots, and we cancelled a planned trip because of medical advice not to fly.
God’s Care
Don and I saw God‘s hand of care clearly throughout the day. Don got the help he needed. And if I hadn’t gotten this stye, if the doctor hadn’t wanted me to be seen within 24 hours, if he hadn’t ordered the ultrasound, the results could’ve been dire. We would have flown to our trip and I could have had a Pulmonary Embolism in flight.
I read that 30% of people have no symptoms of a thrombosis. I was among those, at least not with symptoms I recognized. (Learn more about DVT at PennMedicine.org).
We are incredibly grateful and would appreciate prayers for complete healing.
How Do We Respond?
First, if you have symptoms such as red, warm to the touch, swollen legs (usually one more than the other), or others listed in the linked article, please contact your doctor.
Second, how often do we ask, “Father, what do you have for me/us today?”
I heard of someone who says, “Lord, this is what I’ve planned for today. But what do YOU have for me?”
I like that. Be prepared, but open to God’s interruptions.
Photo credit: Kindel Media
Interruptions Allow Us to See, or Share, God’s Care
It’s so often in the interruptions that we see God’s loving care, that we interact in meaningful ways with people we love and those in need. I have a very full life, but I want to be wisely open to the interruptions God brings into my day for His purposes, which are far more important than mine. Sometimes for my good, often for others’. (See my related article: Wait – I Will Take Care of You)
I thank God for watching over Don and me, and trust He is doing the same for you, my readers.
“Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.”
—Lamentations 3:21-26, NLT
Question of the Week
When was your life last interrupted for a good purpose? Please tell me about it in the comments.
I will return to what it’s like to write my first novel in my next post.
How is your condition now, Carol? I hope the issue is resolving quickly. What a beautiful story of God’s faithfulness.
We had a similar experience when my son had a recurring rash on his face. It turned out to be from mango skin, so no big deal. But in the process, he was diagnosed with type one diabetes.
Thank you Columba. Evidently it takes time for clots to dissipate. I’ll have another ultrasound in August. And yes, your experience was similar – going in for a recurring rash and discovering Type 1 diabetes. Amazing how God provides isn’t it!
How good is God to reveal hidden things that we need to discover so he can heal us? Whether physical, spiritual, mental, or emotional he has our back. I’m so grateful for those “just in case” moments. I’ve had 2 serious ones with our children. As a week old infant, my youngest daughter was very ill with an infection the doctors couldn’t diagnose. But on a wild, long-shot her pediatrician had a special ultrasound done to see if she might have urinary reflux. She had been researching and beginning to do in-utero surgeries for this condition that had only recently been discovered. Sure enough, that was the issue, and she was able to give the care my daughter needed. With our youngest son (my step-son), whose birth mother died of a sudden heart attack, a fainting episode led us to Stanford Children’s hospital where they were finally able to diagnose his arrhythmia as being due to a normal abnormality of his heart functioning in an opposite way than most people’s. He’s grown up now with no issues at all, but we were so grateful and put at ease for the ongoing care he received – especially given his mother’s history. God sees all and knows exactly what we need. I’m praying for your healing and care and thanking him for his goodness to us!
Amen, Laura. I’m so grateful for the times God has revealed hidden things to you for your children, and appreciate your prayers for healing. Blessings!
Thank you Carol for this story. I’ve been thinking of you and praying for complete clearing of the clots. Thank God they were discovered before harm was done.
Judy ❣️
Thank you for your prayers and note, Judy. They mean a lot to me. Have a blessed day! BTW, Shirley told me your voice is just getting better and better. I’m so happy for you, and for the delight you feel in singing, as well as the joy you bring to others.
We praise the Lord that our daughter, Marjorie, is now cancer-free because her cancer was discovered early when she had an emergency appendix operation while visiting us in Winkler. She had no warning signs. But the ultrasound they did, showed she had ovarian cancer. Which was immediately treated when she got home to Montreal by surgery and chemo. After a difficult year, she and her husband are now going skiing and camping. It was that ‘just in case’ test , a caring God and skillful, caring doctors. And prayer. Thankyou for sharing.
Shirley, you also experienced one of those “But God” times when Marjorie was discovered during an appendix surgery. I’m so glad she is doing well and is cancer-free. How good our God is to watch over us and show us things about which we had no knowledge. I’m thankful – for you, me, and others who have had the same experience. Hugs!