MAY YOU BE MADE STRONG

It was not what I wanted to hear. Although I knew it was a possibility, I was still stunned to hear that I needed open heart surgery within the next six months. It was January, our son Brad would get his MBA in May, so the surgery was scheduled for March.

To prepare is to “make ready, usually for a specific purpose; make suitable, fit, adapt, to equip.” What would I do to prepare? Immediately I read everything I could about the procedure and began praying for my surgeon and the surgical team. My husband Dave scheduled time off from his work so he could be with me every step of the way. We shared the information with family and friends so they could surround me in prayer. I was concerned, but was never afraid.

God strengthened me.

What were the blessings? One of the exercises in the Bible study I was taking suggested we write our own lamentation. This allowed me to name all of my positive and negative feelings about my health and upcoming surgery, as well as express my faith in God.

During those months of preparation for surgery and recovery, Bible verses that brought comfort would come to mind. During my years of Bible study, I created index cards of the scriptures that meant the most to me, and they were in easy reach. Prayers took many different forms that I had studied. Sometimes I could only use “breath prayers” -- repeating a phrase like “save me in your steadfast love” over and over again.

Statements of faith and encouragement were shared with those met during my hospital stays and during cardiac rehab.

Whenever I sent an e-mail request stating my needs, someone would always be able to help. My sister Ellen and daughter Adele traveled to stay with me when I first returned home. Friends in and out of my church family were generous with their time in staying with me, taking me to appointments or shopping. This gift of time from friends and family allowed me to get “caught up” and know them on a deeper level. So many friends and family members reached out to me with cards and e-mails of encouragement.

In looking back at my experience, it was my preparation trying to live as a Christian that prepared me for this surgery. Lent gives us time to look at Jesus’ life as an example of preparation for life, for death and for life after death.

Jesus kept a strong relationship with the Father through prayer and was versed in the Word. He listened for God’s call on his life. He gathered a small group that would grow together in faith. When times were most difficult, he prayed with increased fervor. Won’t this example of preparation for death also prepare us for all that comes our way during our lives?

— Carole King Yoho

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist