Well, my friends, it has been a rough week. On Tuesday, I went to the emergency room with chest pains and shortness of breath. I was resting at home when my brother called, the one who is a Chief Firefighter in Florida, and told me that a little “birdie” had told him that I wasn’t well. He told me that I had to go to the ER right away since my symptoms were those of a heart attack. So, my husband and I headed out about eleven. After multiple tests and needles, I was sent home with the diagnosis of pleurisy and an hiatal hernia. No problem, right? Just rest and take meds that they gave me. Not so fast! I was told to contact the surgeon whose name they had provided as soon as possible. When I did, the surgeon wanted to see me yesterday. So, off I went again. This time I found out that I have a para-esophageal hernia, an hiatal hernia that is not as frequent and that is also very risky. According to the surgeon, my entire stomach has left my digestive cavity and is in my chest cavity next to my heart. Surgery is not an option but is absolutely necessary (the sooner the better) since my stomach can get twisted around my heart. So, on Monday, I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist for a consultation for him to run a camera down my esophagus. On Wednesday, I have to swallow that yucky stuff for an upper GI series at radiology. And I have to call my cardiologist for an appointment as soon as possible so that he can clear me for surgery. While I am pondering all of this, what hit me like a brick is that I probably won’t be able to travel to see my grandchildren, a trip planned for a few months now. Disappointment has overwhelmed me, sidling up to the fear that comes with facing surgery again. Plus, I am on a special diet, more restrictive than my diet after my stroke: no bread, no crackers, no cookies, no nuts, no berries, no carbonated beverages, no chips or popcorn, no fried foods, and no meat of any kind except fish. The list goes on and on, but it took away a lot of the things that I can normally eat and left me eating things that I don’t really like along with the restrictions on sugar and salt that went with having a stroke. Why am I complaining to you this way? Because on Tuesday, before I went to the ER, the Lord gave me several Scriptures. Then, yesterday, before heading out to see the surgeon. He gave me a third one. These are the rocks that I am standing on, and I wanted to share them with you.

This is the verse that God gave me when I read my devotional on Tuesday, the day that I spent in the ER. God is my stronghold, no matter what is happening to me. I thought about that and I figured out that He has a strong hold on me, just as I have a strong hold on Him. He is not letting me go, no matter what I have to go through. He is caring for me as I hide behind Him. Could He heal me and then I would not need the surgery? Of course! And I will continue to pray and believe for that (although I confess that my belief is not as strong as I would like it). But even if He doesn’t heal me and I do have to have the surgery, God is still caring for me. Awesome!

This is the other verse that God gave me on Tuesday, keeping me calm during my ordeal at the hospital because I knew that God was right there beside me. He is still working out His plan for my life. He is not leaving me alone; my Creator knows just what I need and He will supply it, even making sure that I see a competent surgeon yesterday, and one whom I trusted right away.

God is walking before me; that is the verse that He gave me yesterday. He has blessed me for all the years of my life, but especially for the last forty five since I met Him as my Lord and Savior. No, I may not get to see my grandchildren for Christmas because of the risks of traveling as well as the risk of waiting to have the surgery. But, Christmas will still be in my heart because it is the day that I celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world! And thanks to the miracle of technology, I will be able to see my grandchildren open their gifts on Skype. Ideal? Of course not! What I had planned and hoped for? No, but when my plans don’t work out, I have to trust that God has a better one, like making sure that I am healthy to live more years and to continue to enjoy my grandchildren as they grow up.

So, if you are making plans and there is certainly a halt in your plans, don’t worry or fret. Just be aware that God is in control, that He is working out a plan for you and that He will be your refuge and stronghold through the valleys that you may have to go through. Remember that you are going through the valley, not staying there. I am headed for a mountaintop, with God right beside me, and I hope that is where you are headed, too. By the way, if you have any low-sodium recipes for baked fish, please pass them along. Thank you and many blessings to you and your household!