FAMILY CORNER
I will
walk in my house in the integrity of my heart.” Psalm 101:2
A Diamond
Experience
Sometimes
our Father, in all His Glory and Grace gives us a pressure-packed family
experience that, while short, is the means of creating a diamond; one with so
many facets of beauty, we marvel as we look back and ponder its loveliness Our family had one of these experiences a
few months ago. The day started out normal, a seemingly ordinary day. Little did we know the darts that Satan was preparing
to unleash upon us.
Our
son Timothy, who is eight, had been letting us know his stomach didn’t feel so
good. We didn’t think much about it, as we knew many who had gotten over stomach
flu that had started with the same symptoms. Later that
afternoon we went over to a friend’s house to enjoy the company of fellow
Christians in a much-needed relaxed atmosphere. One of the teens came
and told us that Timmy really didn’t look well. He had a few tears and told us
his stomach really hurt. It was at this point that the first diamond facet was shown to us. My wife, Valaree, called a
friend who is an ER nurse and she had us do a few tests on Timmy. She was
concerned at the results and said we should take him to the hospital right
away. That bit of advice saved Timmy not only a long hospital stay and
tremendous stress, but also possibly his life. We are so thankful we quickly
heeded our friend’s advice!
We
got to the hospital and received our second
diamond facet. While we were on the way to the hospital, one of the friends
who we had been with, unknown to us at the time, was praying that the hospital
staff would be compassionate and gracious. Down to the last minute of our stay,
the medical staff was truly fantastic.
The
third of the diamond facets came very
soon after. This facet started out small and continued to grow through the
night. As the nurse prepped Timmy for the IV and shunt, he was pretty nervous. I’d have given anything to have been able to take
it for him. A little while later while pondering this I realized how Jesus must
have felt towards those whom were in such dire need. “Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…” (Isaiah 53). It was easy to see why Jesus was so willing to
heal, even with the physical cost to Himself, for we
are told that every time Jesus healed anyone “virtue (strength) went out
from Him” (Mark 5:30).
The fourth facet was again one that was
enhanced over the course of the next three days. My son was braver and more resolute
than many adults would have been. It was not that he had no fear of the
situation, but he had somehow determined in his own young mind that he was
going to do the best he could in this experience. That’s one of those blessings where adversity
is needed to show itself. Obviously, it is not something a parent consciously
goes about teaching a child, but apparently, he has learned it well from us and
others somehow. The nurses were continually impressed with his cooperative
spirit. As you live with your children, you begin to take certain behaviors for
granted. It took this experience for us to see our son in this wonderful
heavenly light and we truly praise Yahweh for it.
The
next diamond facet came when the
doctor told us that Timmy needed ‘surgery’ to have his appendix removed. An eight-year-old
child cannot possibly be prepared for news like this and indeed, he broke down
with tears, pleading, “I want to go
home!” Who could not understand such
a cry and need for comfort? But the blessing of that cry for help was that our
home is a place of safety for him. He feels secure there in the home that Jesus
and his parents created for him.
The diamond facet that followed then exploded
into full view. For the first time in my life, I realized, with my whole heart,
Jesus’ willingness to die in our stead. Of course, I know the theology of that
blessed fact, but until then I had not truly understood the empathetic nature
of His compassion towards the human race. I would not have hesitated to take
the surgery for Timmy. As I held him in my arms, I knew that I would gladly,
joyfully, lay down my literal life for his. I now know how Jesus felt about the
human race He created and so loved. The same race that turned their back on
heaven and yet still He loved it and His Father so much that He gave His life
for it most willingly. How amazing!
The
sixth diamond facet was that of precious
friendship; friendship that cares as much for us and our well-being as is
possible. I knew that our car parked on
the street by our friend’s house was illegal on an overnight basis, but frankly,
my real concerns lay elsewhere, nevertheless, it was a concern. Our friend
called us at
The
seventh and final facet is that Timmy
is abundantly aware of how much he is loved not just by his family, but also by
so many people. He received three dozen cards, and many gifts of concern. He
has remarked twice to me how people must love him. I know this is a fact he
will recall many times and will not forget how his immediate family, extended
family and his church family are a truly vital part to his life.
Diamonds
are the most precious stones known to man. They are rare jewels, which when
properly cut and polished, are looked upon in awe for their beauty. What an apt
illustration of how it can be in our difficult experiences if we allow our Great
Heavenly Father, who has such an incredible love for us, to shape our
experiences to make us more like Jesus.
The more we get to know and appreciate His great love for us the more we
find ourselves lost in wonder, love and praise! While I would never wish
physical hurt for my children, I would not trade this experience for anything.
I have an “Ebenezer stone” to look at
for all eternity.
- Andy Weeks
Have Thine own way,
Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art
the Potter, I
am the clay!
Mold me
and make me after thy will,
While I
am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Hold
o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill
with Thy Spirit ‘till all shall see
Christ
only, always, living in me!
“They shall be mine,
says the Lord of Hosts, when I make up My jewels, and
I will spare them as a man spares his own son that serves him…”
Malachi 3:17