A Day of Blessing
We headed to the surgery center, my 6-year-old in her monkey-print pajamas and I, her mother, sipping from a tall mug of strong, black coffee.
We arrived in time, and I signed off on paperwork confirming Lydia’s surgical procedure: Tube in right ear. Investigation of perforation in left ear. Removal of adenoids.
I handed all 40 pounds of my firstborn over to a complete stranger, and the two disappeared down a long hallway, retreating behind doors to an operating room. I would see Lydia on the other side of this “routine procedure” — routine for the doctors, but not for the moms who wait.
Thirty minutes later, another nurse led me to the recovery room, where my little girl — just waking up — wanted only one thing: to be held by her mom.
We sat there, mother and child, pressed together for two hours through cries, then whimpers, then sighs of contentment. Through IV pain medicine, then ice chips, and finally Jello. Through long periods of silence, where the only sound was our synchronized breathing. Finally, we arrived safely at giggles and spoken daydreams of pancakes.
“A Day of Blessing,” you may ask? Oh, let me count the ways.
Blessing came in the form of a friend who called at 6:30 a.m. to pray with Lydia over the cell phone. It came in the form of another friend who, conveniently, works overnight shifts at the surgical center and was just getting off work as Lydia’s surgery began. This friend sat with me as I waited, though her day of work was over.
Blessing came in the form of ice chips, syrupy pancakes and a teary call from Lydia to her little sister, because “I just want to tell her how much I love her.”
Blessing came in the reminder that I have a child to hold. While I fed Lydia Jello in the recovery room, I couldn’t help but think of the parents of dear Jessica in Minnesota. She, too, was 6.
“Lord, you alone know why their 6-year-old died in an accident at the lake, while my struggle came in the form of a simple adenoidectomy. God, I don’t understand why some are spared and others are taken so young, but I do know this: I would further compound the tragedy if I were to ignore the blessing I have been given. Lord, thank you for letting me comfort a girl who gets to go home with me before the day is even half over.”
For it was only six hours after the sun rose when she and I were headed back home. I pulled in the garage, parked the van and looked back at my daughter. She bore little proof of the way we started our day, save for the Bandaid covering her left hand.
I’m sitting here with tears running down my face. Your heart is so beautiful, and I am so blessed to read pieces of it.
Much love to you!
gabi
http://www.compelledbylove.wordpress.com
Oh my. Tears streaming here as well.
God bless you, Jennifer!!!
Wouldnt our lives be richer if we simply asked for ‘wonder.’
Ice chips, a little hand, and a child’s smile…..ahhh. Thanks God!
David
So glad it all went well, Jennifer! Who knows the ways of the Lord? But so thankful you’re little one is doing well.
So glad Lydia is well. We are so blessed in our lives everyday. Thanks for reminding me how precious those little ones are!
Jennifer,
so happy to hear that things worked out so well, that you could be there with and for your little one and that she did, indeed, come home with you today. We are so blessed by our children. Love you, Carol
http://carolchil.blogspot.com
Ah, sweet words.
What a blessing it was for me, my friend, to be able to know that she was in wonderful hands…not only of the Lord but all of those wonderful peeps of mine that knew she was a little angel in my life! I can only pray for healing for our brave little angel! It was so sweet to see you both at the desk…her beautiful little eyes and that big wide grin, not only from her but you too…gotta love it! I was honored to sit with you for awhile as you waited…Love & Hugs to you as always!
Your Friend in Life & in Christ!
Tracy
Happy to hear it all went well. I was a mess when Alek had his tubes and when we were in Iowa City with the entire Dermatology Dept. They were perplexed about what formal diagnosis of Alek’s skin condition. Now, we have a diagnosis for Alek. Only 50 documented cases in the world of Phacomatosis Pigmentokeratotica. He is also one of five who doesn’t have the “syndrome” or shows any abnormalities (bone, muscle, eye sight or melanoma) (as of yet) We are truly blessed and thank God everyday for the bullet we dodged.
Give Lydia a hug from us!
Blessing came with a mother who loves her this much.
from real live preacher for The High Calling Blogs
Sometimes it’s the smallest blessings that mean the most. What a wonderful story. Glad to hear things are fine…
My 5 year old granddaughter is named Lydia. I imagined her where your daughter was and found joy in hearing of God’s provision of comfort and care for you and your Lydia. Thanks for being there for your daughter and for sharing the blessed moments so that others can experience your depth of trust in God.
I know, it’s soooo hard, the thought of handing our loved ones off to total strangers, people who know nothing about us, but they knew their job and sound like they did it well and with such care.
I, as well, am happy that things turned out to be ‘A Day of Blessing’. Praise God!