It’s been exactly one year since my son was able to come home from the hospital. Due to many complications, what started out as appendicitis turned into forty-something days in the ICU and on the surgical recovery floor. During that time, he won over every tech, nurse, and doctor with his patience and kindness. His perseverance and long-suffering were truly amazing. I didn’t hear him complain one time.
On a typical day during his time in the hospital, I would spend the night there. My wife and the girls slept at home. In the morning, my wife would come to the hospital, and we’d take care of our son together for a few hours. Then I’d go home and sleep during the day while my wife took over at the hospital. My daughters did school, chores, etc. I’d eat dinner with the girls, and then we’d all go to the hospital, where we’d be together until my wife took the girls home. And the routine would start all over again.
We had our rhythm, but something in the family was wrong. One of us was suffering, and the entire family felt it. The waves of emotion were intense and often overwhelming, especially during the scary times. The feelings were so raw that sometimes even encouragement and advice (given in love) were taken personally and felt hurtful.
God Was Glorified
Even though this was the worst thing our family had ever experienced, God was glorified in it. He was glorified by the amount of prayer and intercession made for our son. He was glorified by the love and support His church poured out on our family. God was glorified by the Spirit-filled demeanor and faith our son displayed throughout his stay and recovery. He was glorified when we prayed and read God’s Word out loud while nurses and doctors were in the room.
Doctor friends who worked at the hospital and attend our church would come spend time with us, reassure us, and pray for us. Some of my co-pastors and my son’s friends visited and prayed with us. The outpouring of prayer and support from our church was an incredible blessing and an example of the presence of God’s Kingdom here on earth. God was indeed glorified in our son’s suffering.
At one point, one of the surgeons told me he didn’t think our son was going to make it. This was a sobering reminder of just how serious the situation was and how desperate we were for God’s grace in the life of our boy. However, by His grace, our son was able to come home — exactly one year ago (to the day) of me writing this. He worked with his teachers to get fully caught up in school. He has made a full recovery and is back to doing the things he loves, with a maturity and deeper appreciation for life than many of his peers. All to the glory of God.
Give Thanks to the Lord
Please join us in praising God for accomplishing His will in our lives. There could have been a different, much sadder ending to this story — one where God would still get the glory and we would still be praising Him for accomplishing His will in our lives. However, in this case, it was a favorable outcome, one we are so thankful to Him for.
But that’s not the end of the story. God didn’t only answer the prayers to spare our son’s life… one year later, He chose to double down and give us another blessing! A new addition to our family — a baby boy — is expected to be born by the end of the year! We are so excited and still in awe of God’s perfect (and sometimes even comedic) timing.
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!”
— Psalm 92:1–5
Be encouraged, church! In life or death, rejoicing or mourning, our God is worthy of all our praise and affection.
Rejoicing,
Billy
Posted in A Word from the Pastor