Despite the snow-covered ground, my body yearned for fresh air and exercise. I left the house that afternoon with more on my mind than a brisk walk, however. It was a period in my life when my heart yearned to know God better. I longed to learn to love Him more. The solitude gave me time to think and pray.
About a mile from home, I slipped on an icy patch. As my feet flew off the ground, my arm flew out to break my fall. When I stopped being airborne, I felt and heard the crunch with the impact.
I had little doubt my wrist was broken. I cradled the limp limb in the crook of my other arm and headed home.
Once home my husband, Doug, prepared to take me to the emergency room.
In the intervening moments, the telephone rang. My friend, Beth, urgently asked for prayer. Her 15 year old son, Matt, was on a ski trip in Colorado. He was on his way to a Denver hospital by helicopter with a head injury. She had no other details.
Suddenly my wrist injury lessened in importance. I wanted to rush over to sit with Beth while she awaited more information, but the only ministry available to me was prayer. My own hospital trek was of immediate concern.
At the ER, x-rays confirmed shattered wrist bones; surgery required. I was told to lie quietly while I waited for a surgical team to be assembled. They withheld pain medication because I would soon receive a general anesthetic.
Lying quietly was no problem. The slightest movement exacerbated the intense pain. My thoughts jumped to our friend’s son and his injuries. Prayers tumbled through my mind–for God to send skilled doctors–complete healing–peace for Matt and his parents–that their faith would be strengthened. I prayed whatever came into my thoughts to pray.
Through no fault of the hospital, I waited hours for the surgery. My problem though painful, was not life-threatening. A series of more serious medical emergencies displaced me on the surgery schedule. Meanwhile, as I focused my attention on prayers for Matt, I discovered praying for someone else’s pain took my mind off my own. Eventually, I thought about Jesus on the cross. The acute physical pain I experienced was minimal compared to the physical pain He suffered. Then I saw beyond the pain. I realized His attention was not focused on His own anguish but on the world for which He came– “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Sometime after midnight the doctors gave up on immediate surgery for me. They gave me pain medicine and scheduled surgery for the following afternoon. The surgery happened as planned. We also learned Matt’s injuries were not as serious as we thought they might be. He would be fine.
Days later I realized the Lord used these circumstances to begin answering my prayer to know Him better. I gained insight into, and felt in a deeper way, His love for all of us. Jesus suffered intensely, but willingly, for our sakes. I longed to love Him more. As my understanding of His love for me grew, I couldn’t help but love Him more. I also learned that in the painful situations in our lives, the Lord has much to teach us if we are not wasting our attention on the pain.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 1 John 3:16 NIV
Blessings,
Phyllis
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Copyright 2023 Phyllis L. Farringer
It is really good it all worked out the way it did.
Thank you, George
You are so inspiring, Phyllis.
Thank you, Debby. Thanks for stopping by.