Twists, Turns, Takeaways.  August 30.

Our lives are much like patchwork quilts.  I know there is something you can take away from the pieces in my recent quilting - what is it?

See, I had surgery to have my thyroid removed  -- I referenced that in “Please Don’t Feed the Pelicans”¹ - http://pastorwoman.com/ReadArchive.aspx?id=2774, only to find out that it had cancer within.  ‘We believe we got it all,’ the surgeon said when he called.  Twist, turn in my plan.  Wow, cancer is an awful word.  Having a Pollyanna attitude going into surgery was good at the time, but on the other side, I then remembered, ‘hey girl, any time you have a general anesthesia, any time your body is cut open, it will mean pain, swelling and recovery time’.  Oh, yeah. 

Reminded me of these verses I discovered at just 11 years of age: “Look here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to such and such a town, stay there a year, and open up a profitable business.” How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog—now you see it; soon it is gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we shall live and do this or that.” Otherwise you will be bragging about your own plans, and such self-confidence never pleases God.”² 

“If the Lord wants us to, we shall live and do this or that.” How rich is that?  We usually think we know how things are going to roll out, but really, only God knows, and as James indicates we can plan, but we do not ultimately control so many things, thus

                  all of our plans should be submitted to God

                           for his will and our perfection.

And then a funny thing happened.  When I let folks know that dr. found cancer, but believes he got it all,’ responses were, “thank God, praise the Lord,” and many akin to those.   But from my couch I wanted to shout, “Wait!  He said I had cancer in my body and I did not know about that—I was not expecting that, and I am still adjusting to what that might mean.”  Takeaway no. 1 – when someone I know tells me something like that, first I should ask,

                  ~~~~à‘How are you feeling about that?’

Kind reader, Doctor, Friend – did you catch that?  First inquire about your patient’s emotions, your friend’s feelings, then find the good, potentially help them see the silver lining, right?  Yes, I knew it was for my greater good, but I still had to first deal with the information (and my real emotions), and then assimilate it into what I know to be trueàGod works all things together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose.³

Takeaway no. 2 – Listen well.  Be desirous of hearing from others.  Overnight in the surgery center was a quirky experience.  Not the usual call buttons but old-fashioned bells to ring.  So, in my trying-to-go-to-sleep exhaustion, I heard, “Hello?  Is someone there?  ‘Anyone there?  I need help.”  It was from the quasi-room two removed from me, the girl needed something, so I answered.  But, what was up with her?  She wanted to know she was not alone and that help was available if she needed it.  Isn’t that like you and me, particularly if we are lonely or scared?  See, we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother in Jesus⁴, but sometimes we forget, and oft we need to share our access to that friend with others. 

Takeaway no. 3 – Sometimes we need to ‘show up’

for someone so she knows she is not alone.

Then another funny thing happened—someone asked me how I knew to have my thyroid removed.  Well, you see, last September, I was stopped at a red light and was rear-ended by an SUV.  Weeks later, when I had an MRI, multiple nodules were seen on my thyroid.  Fact is, if I had not had a couple MRIs, I would not likely have caught this cancer so early.  Hmm.  God works all things together for good for those who

            love him and are called according to his purpose.

Is it possible life is all about the twists, the turns and the takeaways?

^{1 – All Morning Briefings are archived, www.pastorwoman.com}

^{2 - James 4.13-16, the living bible}

^{3 – Romans 8.28}

^{4 – Proverbs 18.24}