The Power of Prayer...

Many of you know my sweet friend Christie. I've known her so long and so well we might as well be sisters. My kids even call her parents Nana and Poppy and I know her family as well as I know my own! Her cousin Susan had their third beautiful baby a week ago Friday. After his delivery Luke began having some breathing problems and eventually had to be transferred to a hospital with a bigger NICU. It's been touch and go all week and the wait for a diagnosis very difficult. They received a preliminary diagnosis of achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism. This sweet wonderful family could use all of our prayers.

I admit I am quite a random thinker and I think my blogging style pretty much reflects this! I have been consumed with worry for my dad over all this election business. It has gotten really nasty. I was praying for Susan's family today and thinking about Dad and praying about him. And, that made me remember ....

In February of 1994 my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He had a tumor the size of a golf ball near his heart. The diagnosis was grim. The Dr. told us that this form of tumor had invisible feelers that were imposible to remove with surgery and that at best he would have 6 months.

They sent him home and suggested we get a second opinion at Zale-Lipshy. We prayed. Everyone we knew prayed and their friends prayed.

A week later we went to Zale-Lipshy. They wanted their own pathologist to have a look at the biopsy slides. While we waited they explained that they could do surgery, but probably would not be able to get it all. Chemotherpy was unknown. This type was rare and there wasn't much research on it. Then, the second Dr. entered the room...with a smile and a different look in his eyes than we had seen since receiving the diagnosis. He explained that their pathologist had a different opinion. They thought it was an epithelioid endothelioma (aren't you impressed that after 14 years I can still spell that?!). They wanted to send it off to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology to confirm, but felt that while still serious and rare this type was not as elusive when doing surgery. Right there in that exam room, we got a miracle.

A few weeks later my dad underwent surgery to remove the tumor. He had six weeks of radiation. Fourteen years ago. At the time they told us if he were cancer free for 5 years he'd be considered cured. You could tell from the look in their eyes they didn't think that would happen. For those of you who don't know....our son Thomas was born almost exactly 5 years later. That would be why he bears his Papaw's name. I didn't think my dad would be there to see me graduate from college, walk me down the aisle or see his grandchildren. Look what he's seen and accomplished in the last 14 years.

Typing this I've realized that maybe my thoughts weren't so random. I mean both are about prayer after all. So many people prayed for dad in those awful, scary days that now seem so hazy. We are all praying for baby Luke and his family. I am humbled and awed by the power of prayer.

Which then puts this election business in perspective. If he wins again great, if he loses....OH WELL. He's such an honorable man and the idea that someone could lie about him and attack him like this....it's hard to take. My favorite hymn is "I Surrender All." It's my favorite, because that is the hardest thing for me to remember to do. I am a control freak and a worrier. I find myself worried sick (literally--I've been popping antacids like candy!), and then I remember...

All to Jesus I surrender,

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In his presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all;

All to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

Whatever happens is part of His great and wonderful plan for us.

Blessings,

Leslie

Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me

Psalm 66:20