Praise for the Little Things

As some of you may know, I had sinus surgery on Wednesday, due to a long, drawn out infection that could not be beat with the best antibiotics.  It was so bad, that I was unable to sleep on Monday night due to the awful odor from the infected tissue in my sinuses. (Sorry to be so gross.)   Well, my surgery experience had to be the most pleasant, if surgery can be so, experience in a while.  God had His loving hands in all of the small, seemingly insignificant, details.  Let me just share them with you, as God deserves and resides in His praise.   1. My good friend, Terry from a school I used to teach at, willingly drove me.  She is now enjoying her retirement.  She is such a joy to spend time with.  Nary a cross word ever leaves her lips. 2. They took me back to pre-op early to give me a necessary injection which had to be done 2 hours prior to my procedure.  Since I have had to inject myself with this drug in the past, the nurse allowed me to do it myself.  (I appreciate when I am empowered in health care settings.) 3.  After the injection, they gave me the option of changing and waiting in the pre-op area, or returning to the waiting room for a little while longer.  I asked if someone could give Terry directions to the cafeteria so she could get some coffee.  They encouraged me to go with her, as long as I was back in time.  Being able to relax in that setting was so pleasant. 4. When I got back to the waiting room, I only had to actually wait about 15 more minutes before they called me back to pre-op.  After they got my IV in, they allowed Terry to come back and hang out with me. 5.  The pre-op has recliners instead of beds, and they had me walk to the OR, another empowerment thing for me.  Of course it is awkward to climb onto the table with my gown open in the back, but if anyone was peeking, I had my undies on. 6. The nurses asked how I like to be called, instead of just assuming I go by Pat. 7. The procedure only took about 50 minutes from the time I was in OR and my ride to recovery. 8. Seeing me try to hold my ice pack up to my forehead, the nurse showed me how to tie the strings so that it became a headband.  I looked like something from a Revolutionary War image, but it was much more pleasant. 9. They moved me to the post-op area about 30 minutes after I got to recovery. 10. Terry came back and helped me get more ice chips when I ran out. 11. They had none of my painkillers in the post-op, but they did have the one I was allergic to, so the nurse had to order it, and it came much faster than she anticipated it. 12. I was out of post-op and able to walk to the car (empowerment) about 30 minutes after getting there. 13.  Because my doctor had e-mailed/faxed my prescriptions to the pharmacy they were waiting for me when I got there.  14. I was able to get my hematologist's office to order more of my Lovenox without a hitch.  My prescription plan does not cover it, so I was unable to obtain it at the pharmacy.  15. I have had minimal pain, which was not my experience 12 years ago.  I was on a different pain killer then. 16. My nephew gave me the cutest get-well gift and card, along with some sugar-free candies with a little stuffed doggy, and my sister brought me two bouquets of fresh flowers. 17.  I am saving the best for last.  Usually, when I call my daughter and talk to my granddaughter, she does not talk, she just listens and says "Bye bye" when she gets bored with me.  Today, she talked to me.  Being only 20 months old, her conversation skills are limited, but she did say, "Hi," "Pretty," "Momma," "Baby," "Blankie," and "Pink."  It seems that she was holding her baby doll and it had a pink blanket on it.  She is going to be a talker, just like her Momma and me.  What a munchkin!   I hope you were not bored by this list of praises.  I just think God is so awesome for providing me with so many wonderful people, and so many little things to show me just how much I am loved during what is usually a stressful, and painful experience.    Giving Him all the Praise, Trish

Bored? Are you kidding me! I was smiling and shaking my head "yes" the whole time I was reading your wonderful praise list. God certainly took the opportunity to say "I love you, Trish" 17+ times! I love that. Sleep well tonight.
Blessings,
Mary

Thanks Mary.  My friend Ruth, in Florida, has been trying to help me see God in the little things, and yesterday, He just blew me away. 

Today has been a little rougher.  More pain, and my fever has been steady, but low grade.  I am not to worry till it goes over 101.

Thanks for praising our wonderful God with me.  He deserves it.

Trish

Hi, Trish.
You just keep praising the Lord. The enemy doesn't like it, and he's trying to put infection on you. You have the Greater One within you, so you just stand in the Full Armor of God, keep the Shield of Faith up, and stick him with your Sword of the Spirit! Give him a jab or two for me, while you're at it. :)
We come against Satan, in the Name of Jesus, and we bind him from putting infection on you. In Jesus' Name. Amen!
Blessings,
Mary

It's so awesome to see all the little things God does for us, so often we miss them. I recently had an experience that could only have been God's work. I had been in the neighboring bigger city shopping all morning and when I got back to our town I noticed the car was pulling to the passenger side but figured I'd try to get home which is another 10 mile from town. Well of course half way there the smoke started boiling out from that side of the car so I pulled over into a fishing spot figured there would be someone there. Of course my cell phone was dead, but wouldn't have worked anyway because I was down in a steep valley. So I grabbed my cane and headed to the top of the trail and tried hollering to a couple of fishermen but the river was too loud and they couldn't hear. OK now I'm getting a little nervous, it's too far to walk anywhere, no cell phone so I'm praying real hard. Out of nowhere here comes DH up the road!!!! He pulled over and drove my car home and I took his. Also just seconds after he pulled in our ex neighbor who is a big drinker and has 2 pit bulls that travel with him pulled up. He and I have never gottten along so I would have been terrified if DH wasn't there. Our God is an awesome God and works miracles major and minor on a daily basis if we just look for them.
I know what you mean about 2 year old chatter boxes my great grand daughter is 18 mos. and just jabbers away, I'm starting to be able to understand some of her words. Just glad I won't have to pay her cell phone bill when she gets older!

Trish, I loved your post. Sometimes we are so consumed with the big things, that the little things go by the wayside. Sometime we do not relaize how much God does for us everyday. Thank you for taking the time out to point that out. It was so what I needed.


God Bless you
Karyn

Karyn,
Thanks.  I ran into an elder from my church at WalMart today, and was telling him about my list, and he said that my list is just the beginning of what God was worthy of that day.  It made me think of the magnitude of God's love for me, and how I bearly see just a smidgeon, when I am looking for it.  I am so glad that I looked on Wednesday, because I have had a lot of pain this weekend, and can look back on Wednesday as a reminder.

Have a blessed weekend.

Trish