The Day Faith Told Me About; Part
3 Jeri and her ducks
The
two most important days in a person’s life are the day you’re
born and the day you find out why. (Mark Twain)
Read: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
When Jeri’s cold or not feeling
well she’ll ask for her “ducks."
It’s not the biggest or warmest in
normal measurement of insulating value or marketing specifications
for a blanket, in fact it’s a rather small quilt, but it has the
warming power of all the prayers in its stitches. I’m speaking of
the beloved prayer quilt you made for Jeri; the fabric has little
“ducks” all over it. When she feels drained, or sometimes just
plain sick, or rundown, she’ll ask for her “ducks." What
she’s really asking for is the rejuvenating nourishment that
accompanies being wrapped in the love of all of you. Without fail,
she’ll feel better after a rest wrapped in her “ducks."
The prayer quilt arrived when she
was still in a coma in an ICU. It has followed her through a combined
year in 9 different hospital stays with more than 2 dozen surgeries,
and has served well in all of them and still to this day, 3 years
later; it’s her go-to blanket when she’s down. During our time in
hospitals, there were several times when nurses or aids commented
that there was “something” they felt in Jeri’s room that they
couldn’t describe and hadn’t felt before. Most often this
happened during the wee hours of the night shift when all was dark
and quiet and Jeri was alone, virtually paralyzed, nearly blind,
scared to death and could do nothing but pray, with her “ducks”
wrapped on her for comfort. We’ve spoken of it many times, she
always reports that there’s something more in this particular
blanket. This is no ordinary textile product.
We were alone on Christmas day this
year, and as well we were after 4 days of celebrations with all our
out of town kids and grandkids here with us for the week. We really
needed a quiet day and what a warm Christmas it was for us reliving
the wonder of the last few days. Picking away at leftovers, eating
whenever and whatever we wished. I read aloud to Jeri the story of
Christmas in Luke chapter 2. Then I read Chapter 3, then Chapter 1.
As I did so, it occurred to both of us that several times Jeri had a
visitor much like Gabriel, the Angel of the Lord who visited
Zechariah and then Mary to foreshadow their coming good fortune. No
Jeri’s not pregnant or bringing the next Messiah or anything like
that. She was however dead not once but twice and the Lord sent her
back both times. Many, many people all around the world were praying
for her, starting with all of you who made her “ducks." The
second time she passed and was revived, they told me that even though
her life was saved, while she was “gone” the blood loss to her
brain left very little of it intact. No one could tell me at
breakfast
if I’d still have a wife at lunch. She would spend the next 4-1/2
months on a ventilator; much of it in an induced coma. The hideous
predictions were haunting, she may not be able to breathe on her own,
she may not ever wake up, if she does she may not be able to speak,
or know who I am, or even who she is, paralysis of any or all bodily
parts could be permanent, and on and on. This went on for days. And
yet, last night, Christmas Eve 2015 nearly 3 years later, those of
you in attendance watched as Jeri walked right down the center aisle
of our church and sat in the 5th pew. She recognized all of you and
couldn’t have been happier to share this blessed evening with those
who made her “ducks."
While the best of modern medicine
was working its wonders, many of you came to pray over her; those who
couldn’t come prayed from home, many of you helped make her
“ducks." As soon as we got them, they were laid upon her and
haven’t left since. She’s curled up under them with dreams of
sugarplums (actually laughing grandchildren who just went home) in
her head as I write this.
I’m not rightly sure how to end
this one; other than to thank all of you for your continued support
and prayer. In time we wish to do same for others in need.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for all
the wonders of our modern medicine and those magnificent people who
practice it. Through them you’ve made miracles happen for countless
sons and daughters of your Kingdom. May you continue to bless all who
work in medicine, and all those who tie the knots and make the
“ducks."
Ron Draper; Merry Christmas to All;
December 25, 2015
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