All,
Sick guy here.
I feel better than James Brown! The bladder is still weak, but I really feel great.
Here is the run down again: 50 staples - gone; 1 drain tube - gone; shots in my stomach - gone (i was having one each day); IV - gone; connection to the "G" tube - gone; treatment for Thrash - gone; O2 - gone; dignity -gone!
All that awaits my return to my new normalcy is: removal of "G" tube from stomach; removal of Penrose drain in lower abdomen; removal of pouch drain; an awakening of the bladder; learning to self-intubate and the removal of the last shred of modesty & dignity.
So as you can see, i am almost home.
Enough about me; how about you guys!?! You have all been champs for Denise and me. We check this thing many times each day and are moved by the postings. The knock-knock jokes from the Traylors are a special delight. Brad, the quote was from Bear Bryant. (For those who don't know who Bear Bryant was: he was a football coach at Alabama.....before most of you were born.)
Sadie, your post lifted my spirits and touched my heart. Sadie has shown such grace though over five years of fighting with cancer. Sadie Roberts is my hero! Thank you for your example of grace in the valley.
One of my hopes of Heaven is the fact that then you will all know each other. I just can't wait for you guys to meet in Glory! Won't it be wonderful to see the lives that we have touched? Your posts mean that my life has meant something. I have to admit, in ministry you often wonder if your words, ministry, or even your life is making any difference to anybody. Seeing a post from my kids, now in ministry is a powerful reminder that no gesture goes without reward.
I haven't preached in three weeks and i feel one coming on! I must close for now. Nurse Cratchett is on the hall and she heard that i ate a cracker 8 hours early. Thanks for the notes, prayers, jokes, and mostly for loving the Johnsons. We love you all, and there is not one thing you can do about it.
Blessings,
PA & Nise
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12 comments:
Take it from me, dignity is not all it's cracked up to be. I lost mine years ago (and yet Sandy stays with me!) We do have something in common - we both out-kicked our coverage in the spouse department.
We'll keep praying, you keep healing.
Here's another good Erk story for you: "I had an opportunity (to play) at Alabama. I told them that that was what I always wanted to do and that I was coming, and when I got back home an Auburn coach was sitting on my front porch, and he said, 'Come on, we're going to Auburn.' And I said, 'I just got back from Alabama, I told them I was gonna go to school there and that's what I want to do.' And he said, 'Well you've got to take a look at Auburn.' So I said, 'OK.' We drove to Auburn, he put on a change of clothes, picked up his bag and we went to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and fished for two days. When we got back, I said, 'I've always wanted to go to Auburn.'"
Love to you both, R & S (and now C - she's back from the grandparents!)
From you comment about her may we assume that Nurse Cratchett is filling the voids (cracking the whip) left by the Dragon Lady?! (LOL)
Nothing like a tough taskmaster!!
Wonderful to hear of your continuing progress. It sounds like your bladder does need a "special visit" from my granddaughter...she loves to sneak up right to the face of folks that are asleep and YELL "Wake Up, ____!!" It works!!!
In His service,
Bob
Love you brother.
By the way, I hope you're doing better than James Brown. He's been dead for quite a while now.
JL
Aaron, I've been reading "Wild At Heart" by John Eldredge and ran across a paragraph that made me think of you. It reads:
"I don't trust a man who hasn't suffered. I don't let a man get close to me who hasn't faced his wound. Think of the posers you know--are they the kind of man you would call at 2:00 a.m., when life is collapsing around you? Not me. I don't want cliches; I want deep, soulful truth, and that only comes when a man has walked the road..."
You have stronger unique qualifications for meeting needs than ever before and I pray God will bless you and be blessed by your ordeal. Hang in! You're my hero!
--Bob Trent
We watched a video last night at Bible study done by Louie Giglio. He said one thing that made me think of you. He said that suffering is the megaphone to the message in our hearts. I know you have really suffered, and I just want you to know that I appreciate and admire your heart. Thanks for the message! Feel better~
Hugs,
Angie Johnson
So Joe or Leon can hook up a live feed and you can preach Sunday. ;-)
Oh yeah, if you're not up for two services we'll just record it and play it over again.
Good Morning, Nise, this is for you. I woke up this morning and the hymn "Living for Jesus" kept running through my head and wanted to let you know that you have been a Godly example to me in all aspects of my life. My prayer is that when others look at me,as we do you, there is no doubt that I am living for Jesus.
Living for Jesus a life that is true; striving to please him in all that I do, yielding allegiance, gladhearted and free,
this is the pathway of blessing for me.
Living for Jesus who died in my place, bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace, such love constrains me to answer his call, follow his leading and give him my all.
Living for Jesus wherever I am,
doing each duty in his holy hame,
willing to suffer affliction or loss, deeming each trial a part of my cross.
Living for Jesus through earth's little while, my dearest treasure, the light of his smile, seeking the lost ones he died to redeem,
bringing the weary to find rest in him.
Chorus: O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to thee; for thou, in thy atonement, didst give thyself for me; I own no other master, my heart shall be thy throne, My life I give, henceforth to live,O Christ for thee alone.
O.K. I have to leave a plug for the mean nurse. Chances are she has seen what happens (more than once) for patients who try to "hurry" the healing process. You don't want to end up going back to St. Pete because your incision has "dehisced". I'll explain it to you later if you have not heard what it is (it's a little gory). She is just trying to help your healing process in the long haul (maybe not in your timing). Or...she could just be mean!!! We all want you back; however, we want you back in God's timing. Hang in there. Again, each day is one day closer to complete healing. We love you and continue to pray for you without ceasing.
Kathy
Congrats on all the "gones" - fortunately for all of us they've left all the best parts! I got this & thought you might like it.
It's called Scars.
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole that was behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.
He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
In the house, his mother was looking out the window. She saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could.
Hearing her voice , the little boy became alarmed, and made a u-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms, just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began a very incredible tug-of-war between the two.
The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim, and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. On his arms, there were deep scratches where his mother 's fingernails dug into his flesh; in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked the boy if he would show him his scars.
The boy lifted his pant legs. Then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go.'
You and I can identify with that little boy.
We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly, and have caused us deep regret.. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been right there, holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you.
You are a child of God. He wants to protect you, and provide for you in every way. But, sometimes, we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.
That is when the tug-of-war begins.
If you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful.. He will not ever let you go.
Never judge other persons scars, because you don't know how they got them.
love to you - Clark & Lynn
Yea for staples being gone. Now you can have reality back. Tubes gone yea. I got my cast off yea! We are praying each and every day. Here is a plug for the mean nurse. Sometimes they have just have to. Hang in there we want you back when God said so.
Love,
Balfours
I'm glad you are progressing very well.
You must be sure to get your next sermon online as soon as possible. I know we all want to hear it!!!!
Keep up the patience and get home as soon as possible.
love you
Debbie and Chris
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