Thoughts from the Other Side

This post is a long time coming. It has taken me a little bit to process my thoughts about Violet's hospital stay. Please understand, I am by no means trying to make it sound like a huge ordeal. There are so many other families and moms, like MckMama, Cari, and Linn, who have been and are walking through so much more. Our little adventure seems so pale in comparison. But it is still our adventure.

I was given the opportunity last Sunday to share a few minutes about small groups. Spend two minutes with me, and I'll probably ask you if you are involved in one. I love our group. We are by no means the smartest, wisest people in our group, but I love them all passionately. And, that Thursday, when I heard those words every parent dreads, I immediately thought of them.

We were supposed to start a new study that night, 40 Days of Love. All the usual suspects were to come over, along with some newbies we were looking forward to welcoming. But, I was going to the hospital with Violet. I called our amazing friend Jill, who immediately began calling & emailing the group, along with other friends from church.

Something amazing happened that afternoon. As I was sitting with Violet, comforting her as the nurses poked and prodded, I felt peace. I am not a peaceful person, by nature. I am a worrier/freaker-outer! But I was peaceful. I could literally and physically feel people praying over me. You may be tempted to stop reading here, thinking that this is too weird. Imagine how I felt! I could sense that, in the spiritual, friends and family were dropping to their knees and lifting my baby before the Throne of the Almighty.

What a humbling, honoring thought that is. That people were willing to pray for us, for Violet, for me. The entire time we were there, I was at peace. There is no more helpless feeling than watching your child sleep in a hospital bed, knowing that you as Mom cannot fix her. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that a large part of the reason Violet recovered so quickly was because of the prayers offered up on her behalf.

I am trying to write real thank you notes to everyone who visited, brought meals, took our kids, fed my caffeine addiction, etc while we were there, but for now a virtual thank you will have to suffice.

And if you are one of those who doubts the power of prayer, join the club. It is something I have struggled with since asking Christ into my life. It is much easier to believe that God will heal/answer prayers for others than for me. I cannot doubt that now. I have seen the proof. But, God knows it is a journey of faith and trust for us. This is one of my milestones, a time I will look back upon in the dark of night and say, without doubt, "God heard me then, He can hear me now!"