Strange Blessings

Now, this is going to sound a bit dopey, but the most fantastic thing happened to me this week.  I had a TIA, which is a medical term for a kind of mini stroke (aka a brain fart).  Pretty scary, actually, because all of a sudden my memory got fogged in and I wasn’t sure what day it was or where my Golden Retriever was.  (She had gotten old and sick and I had put her down about 10 days before.  Still, I roamed the house looking for her, knowing something was askew.) 

Now for the blessing part:  Well, first of all, I’m feeling almost normal again.  (Yes, let the jokes begin.) But what blew me away was the amazing outpouring of phone calls, support, visits and prayers.  Made me almost want to do this again next week.  Seriously, like most people, I think, I am puzzled when people actually seem to care about me, even though the evidence is pretty solid that many do.  Also, I remember a time in my life when I had no one on my speed dial except my brother, having chased away or neglected other relationships.

My point (four, actually):  First of all, thank you for your prayers and support.  Second, I can use this to get out of pretty much anything in the months ahead:  "Sorry, but I can’t do that. I’m recovering from a stroke."  Or, better yet, "Hey, be nice to me.  I just had a stroke." Or my favorite:  "Hey, what do you expect, I just had a stroke."  Third, it is truly amazing how a potentially devastating experience can become a wondrous blessing.  That’s partially because, in the words of Winston Churchill, "There is nothing more exhilarating than to be shot at without result."  Fourth and most of all, this is quite a reminder that life is so very fragile.  In a blink, God can change everything and anything.  We are not in charge.  (Sorry if these thoughts aren’t deeper, but remember, I just had a stroke.)  -- jri

"But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, ‘You are my God.’

My times are in your hands…."

          King David (Psalm 31:14-15)