"Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to You; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them" (Psalm 32:6). This is such a comforting verse when you have someone who is recovering from a serious illness or injury. Both of my daughters have been in ICU before so I know the heartache of waiting for someone you dearly love to recover. My mother also just recently recovered from cancer.
When my friend Cat's father was in ICU not long ago, I told her that when he recovers, she will recover too. She agreed and suggested that I write about this.
I decided that out of gratefulness for my daughters' recoveries and Cat's father getting back to his normal life, I would share my experiences. For both Cat and me, prayer was key. We both affirmed positive thoughts and wellness for our loved ones. They remained in our hearts and thoughts at all times.
My daughter Teresa recovered from a pulmonary embolism in the summer of 1995. She had a three-month-old baby at the time. I lived in Nebraska but flew down to Arkansas to be with her through her ordeal. I found that I didn't want to leave her side or leave my baby granddaughter even after she was on her way back to restored health so I moved to Arkansas. The Lord blessed my move by giving me a great teaching job there and allowing me to meet my wonderful husband.
My other daughter Tori was in a serious motorcycle accident in the summer of 2004. She had a five year old daughter at the time. She spent more time in ICU than Teresa. It was Tori's positive attitude that helped her recover. She was an inspiration to me. Her positivity changed my life forever. Ever since then, I have tried to let God give me peace to get through any situation. I have learned the power of staying in the moment so that worry and anxiety would not overcome me.
My friend Cat's father was in ICU with appendicitis. Thankfully, he also is recovering. It has been less than a year since my mother had a good report that she is recovering nicely from the treatments she received to stop her cancer.
I think the one thing that keeps us positive in our prayers for our loved ones is not giving power to the illness or injury. We do not place limits on God's power to heal. This frees us to envision wholeness and wellness for our loved ones. We also have peace of mind because we believe in the goodness of God's Will. We know that our peace cannot be shaken by illness or injury because we have faith in the power of God's LOVE. We are not denying the situation, but we are putting our trust in the Power of God's Goodness.
Here are a few pointers for getting through a crisis. (1) Stay open to friends and family. Many times we feel the need to go it alone, but we need to let people help and support us during this time. (2) We need to be honest about our feelings. We are staying strong for our loved ones who are recovering from illness or injury, but we also need a place to surrender to our emotions and a confidante to listen and encourage us. (3) We need to take care of our own health too. If we want to be there for our loved ones, it's important for us to stay healthy. (4) Whatever our faith is, it can help us get through this situation. (5) We need to be an advocate for our loved one. It's important for us make sure the proper medical care is given to them.
"All things work together for good" (Romans 8:28). "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17). Remember that everything happens for a reason. If we just stay present with our loved ones, we will get through this, and so will they.
Love and Light,
Patty
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