Intersections
Peaceful Reader, how was your Christmas? Ours was simple and peaceful—a few gifts, a few photos, with lots of rest. We listened to Christmas carols. We watched The Princess Bride and laughed. I wore my Snoopy nightshirt with my extra-fuzzy red pajama pants all day. Definitely low-key.
On Christmas Eve, we watched The Nativity Story—a Christmas tradition. It moved me deeply.
The week before Christmas, I had my second hip replacement surgery, so the key word for this season is rest. Early last year, God made The Word of the Year clear to me, when I had no idea what was coming. And the word was rest. My surgeon and his staff emphasized the importance of rest in recent months. I’m good with that. I retired in November and have longed for a true season of rest for a very long time. What bliss to be deep, deep, deep in a true season of rest—finally. What have I found here?
Intersections.
Life-changing intersections.
Last time on Choosing Peace, we explored life’s simple pleasures, including a video of a train, some glorious music, candles and much more. During this season characterized by rest and simplicity, God is bringing many people to my mind. From part 1: “I give all glory to the Holy Spirit, who weaves our lives together in such beautiful ways.”
Today you’ll read about Charlotte’s remarkable story, two nurses, and our son Logan.
The nurse and the surgeon
At the end of August, Brandon insisted that I see a doctor about my fatigue and difficulty walking. I journaled: “He was being terribly bossy.” Translation: I didn’t want to do it.
What I needed
Very reluctantly, I made an appointment. The Lord led me to the perfect nurse practitioner—someone who practices functional medicine. Someone who understands the value of Ivermectin. Someone who thinks outside the proverbial Big Pharma and Medical Establishment box. She was wonderful.
At the very end of my appointment, I finally mentioned that I have arthritis in my hips. As I sat on the end of the exam table, she attempted to move my knees to the left and right. The lack of movement in my hips was striking. She referred me for back and hip X-rays. I went the next day—the day before my birthday. The following week, we went over my X-rays. In all her years as a nurse, she’d only seen one hip X-ray as bad as mine. I had no cartilage. I needed immediate hip replacement surgeries. I was in shock. After all, my primary symptom was fatigue, not pain.
The history and timing
After laboriously walking to Ralph, my old SUV, I sat there and cried. My dad died after his hip replacement surgery. At the time, I said to myself, “I’ll never do that.” And I said it many times in the intervening years.
The time had come to do battle with that old fear—the fear of dying after surgery.
When did I receive this shocking news about my need for two big surgeries? On our son Logan’s birthday. On a miracle day. On a day that was all about life. I knew God was saying to me: “This is my plan for you. I will walk with you through it all. I have great things in store for you.” But still, I had to work through the shock and fear. I asked my friends for prayer and they were on it, big-time.
God helped me to lay down my fear and to limp forward in faith and assurance.
My surgeon
Three weeks later, Brandon and I met with the recommended surgeon. He was phenomenal. He replaced my right hip in November and my left hip in December. He prayed with us before each surgery. He changed my life.
The intersections
When I scheduled my appointment with my new nurse practitioner, did I know that we were like-minded about health care? No. Did I know that she’d refer me to an incredible surgeon? No. Did I know that I’d be having two major surgeries in the coming months? No. But God knew it all.
Our lives intersected at the perfect time
to accomplish the Lord’s good purposes.
Friends
During this season of surgeries, simplicity and rest, the Lord has poured out abundant blessings.
Flowers and more
I was so thankful for my friends, family and flowers.
Thursday, November 20—the day after my first surgery
Journal entry
Meagan brought me yellow flowers, a book—Then Sings My Soul, potato sticks, …and her joyful, encouraging presence. What a precious friend!
…I ate some of Elyse’s shepherd’s pie. So good and hearty. TBTG for every blessing. Logan calls daily to check on me. What a dear son. Brandon is being so helpful.
And those happy yellow flowers stayed fresh and beautiful for more than three weeks. They brought me many-a smile as I rested and recovered.
Food and visits
Blessings have flowed to our home since October. People brought us meals and treats in addition to the two Meal Trains my friend Meagan coordinated for us. Muffins, sweet breads and desserts. Hearty meals, like Noelle’s meat loaf and mashed potatoes. Personal favorites like Meagan’s salmon and broccoli. Charlene’s roast with carrots and potatoes. A Thanksgiving feast from our next-door neighbors. Cheryl’s homemade chili and cornbread. Uber Eats gift cards from Mia, which we used for some delicious lasagna and more. DoorDash and Instacart gift cards from Sam. Oh, my goodness! Lemon cookies. Chocolate cake. Pecan pie. Apple crumb cake. Elyse brought us some homemade tortilla soup this week. What a honey. If I were to list everything, it would blow your mind.
Dear friends brought us food again and again. I loved our time together chatting on the couch. Peaceful Readers, I am humbled and amazed by everyone’s generosity. And people brought my personal favorites—not knowing they were my favorites. I was showered with Kisses On The Head from Jesus.
It’s like the Lord himself was filling our fridge,
our bodies and our hearts in the most amazing way.
We’ve never had so many people coming by our house before. I absolutely loved it.
God gave us the right life group at church, the right friends, the right neighbors—the sweetest people. What beautiful life intersections. Lord, thank you so much for the dear people you’ve put in our lives. We are so grateful. Amen.
Charlotte’s story
Every Christmas, I’m reminded of one of my favorite Life Intersection Stories. The week before my second surgery, I sent a Christmas card with a handwritten note to a very special lady. I’ll call her Charlotte. How did we meet?
My favorite
During my first week as a caseworker for Child Protective Services, I went out on an investigation with an experienced coworker. We removed little Charlotte from her family. It was a bad situation that included drugs and neglect. I became Charlotte’s caseworker and placed her in foster care. She was always my favorite. There was something about her. Later, I got to select Charlotte’s forever parents—wonderful, kind, Christian people.
New life in a new town
Even after the family moved to a smaller Texas town, her mom sent me letters and photos. I loved that. Joy, joy, joy. I got to watch Charlotte grow up, and I celebrated each age and stage in my heart.
Years later, Brandon and I went to Charlotte’s wedding. She married James, her high school sweetheart. They have seven children, including quadruplets, which are extremely rare. Whenever I receive one of their Christmas photos, I marvel at our life intersections.
The unfolding
How did some important parts of Charlotte’s life unfold?
Because Charlotte’s birth mother appealed the court’s decision to terminate her parental rights, Charlotte’s future was put on hold. Thankfully, Charlotte became the first “legal risk placement” in our county. Because her forever parents were approved as both foster parents and adoptive parents, Charlotte could be placed in their home while her legal case was on appeal. Her parents were willing to take an incredible risk with their hearts in order to fulfill the Lord’s remarkable plans. And the rest is history.
Because they moved to a smaller town after the adoption was final, Charlotte met her future husband in high school. Charlotte and James have seven beautiful children! They were chosen for an incredible task and an incredible life together.
A story of abundance
Think about it. Think about how God changed Charlotte’s life—from extreme want to extreme abundance. Think about the future weddings and grandchildren in store for this remarkable family. Think about all the people involved. Think about this family’s impact on future generations. What a privilege to be a part of this amazing story.
Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21, New Heart English Bible
Charlotte’s annual Christmas photo and letter to me are big Christmas highlights that sing, loud and clear:
The Lord’s bounty and blessings are beyond comprehension.
Watch and be amazed.
Logan’s essay
On Christmas Eve, Brandon and I were gifted with something very, very special. We got to read about the seeds we planted as parents that have blossomed in Logan’s life. Logan wrote an essay, “Ethical Principles of My Professional Life,” in his ethics class in his master’s program in accounting. I asked him to email it to me. Hearing him describe his core values filled our hearts in a very special way. As for me, Logan’s essay was my favorite Christmas present—hands down—even though it wasn’t wrapped or placed under the tree. Here’s a snippet:
Being intentional in relationships with other people and facilitating their development and happiness is a core calling of mine. My own personal verse, Esther 4:14, discusses how we have a finite time on Earth and need to make the most of it. Using that time intentionally and being the one person that goes out of the way for another person is my most important personal value.
Remembering
Logan wrote about Jesus healing the 10 lepers, described in Luke 17. “The main message of the story from my parents and the religious teaching of my upbringing was to always be the 10th leper who goes out of his way to thank someone.” As Logan gave examples from his time at Texas A&M, during his internship, and from his summer job as a YMCA camp counselor, I remembered additional details that made me smile. I remembered Logan talking about each intersection—the people involved, what Logan said and did, and the impact.
As I read about Logan’s core values, which include being steadfast, courage, compassion and mercy, and protecting others, I remembered the details of each example he gave. And I remembered additional examples….
The gift
The stories from his life were the puzzle pieces. And Logan’s essay put the puzzle pieces together. What a rare and precious gift.
We were chosen to be Logan’s parents—with formative, long-term, deep life intersections. As I remember the stories, it’s been good to reflect on Logan’s intersections with others. Very good.
Smiles galore.
Nurse Lila
Extra-special
Before my first surgery, the Lord gave me the most wonderful pre-op nurse. I’ll call her Lila. She was compassionate, kind, attentive and had the warmest smile. I remember her gentle presence—how she set me up with a special blanket that had warm air blowing in it; how she walked me very discreetly and patiently to the restroom; and much more. Lila was very, very special. I felt like I was her only patient. I wrote a thank-you note to Lila that included my deep appreciation and the things I had prayed for her and her loved ones.
The compliment
When I was back at the surgery center before my second surgery, I asked the sweet lady who drew my blood to give my thank-you note to Lila. She was happy to do so, and commented that Lila is her favorite. I understood why. Lila’s heart glows with the light of Jesus Christ.
The assurance
I asked a manager at the surgery center if Lila could be my pre-op nurse for my second surgery, and they were happy to work that out. As it turns out, other people needed Lila more than I did that December day. She was assigned to the operating room, where people would never know her name or be able to thank her personally. But that’s definitely where she was needed.
Lila stopped by to visit me before my surgery. With tears in her eyes, she told me how much my thank-you note meant to her. She was wondering if she was in the right place, and the Lord used my note to assure her that she was. She keeps my note on her refrigerator. Wow. I was so moved by her visit. I gave her the box of chocolate covered almonds I brought for her. She really likes those. God is so good.
The intersections
What beautiful intersections. A nurse and her patient. A colleague and the compliment. A note and the assurance. Our lives intersected at just the right time. And the Holy Spirit was in it all.
Your turn
Which of today’s life intersection stories spoke to you the most? The nurse practitioner and the surgeon. Our friends. Charlotte’s story. Logan’s essay. Nurse Lila. Does one of these stories bring someone or something to mind from your life? Is the Lord calling you to be intentional with someone? To have a conversation? To give a gift of your time or food? To give a warm, unexpected hug or compliment? To write a note? To tell someone how he or she has impacted your life? To say thank you?
Close your eyes and pray. Ask God who needs to hear from you and how he’d like you to proceed. Also, ask him to bring important life intersections to your mind to encourage and strengthen you.
I began today’s post with a quote from part 1. It’s a good way to wrap things up.
“I give all glory to the Holy Spirit,
who weaves our lives together in such beautiful ways.”
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Coming next: More stories are coming from this quiet, wonderful season filled with simplicity.
Until next time, thanks for reading and for Choosing Peace.
Truth from The Word: 2 Corinthians 1:20-22
Song: “To God Be the Glory” by Fountainview Academy
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