with the two days I have left with an intact body . . .
Complete the preparation for and teach an introductory class on Chinese religions ~
Make phone calls to substitute for pastoral vists ~
Finish all those thank you notes ~
Read some of what people have been recommending to me ~
Try to hold it together (I am pretty much failing Holding It Together 101) ~
and
Pray.
See y'all on the other side.
And Remember: that you are held up in the prayers of many, many, many people who love you.
ReplyDeleteHolding you close.
ReplyDeleteAlmighty God, hold Robin in the palm of your hand. Quell her fears, bring her hope and joy, guide the hands and minds of her medical team, strengthen and encourage her and her family. We ask in the strong and certain name of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.
ReplyDeletePrayers ascending....
Thank you, ladies, and thank you for that beautiful prayer, Jody.
ReplyDeletePraying here, with Luther's confreres!
ReplyDeleteSo I never like it when people just quote the Bible to me in times of distress, as if it's an aspirin. HOWEVER, this one passage reminds me so much of the day of waiting during Katie's surgery that I have to share it...it has in it all of the encouragement that I could not put into words as well as Paul did (this version is from The Message, but scholar that you are, you'll know many others -and probably know it in the original language!):
ReplyDeleteRomans 8:23-28 The Message (MSG)
"All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Sending love to you.
Adding my prayers to those of so many others.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers too, Robin.
ReplyDeleteHi Robin, thanks for your note on my blog. I'm so thankful that my posts were able to help -- even just a bit! Good luck with the surgery. Now that I'm on the other side of it, I can most confidently say it was SOOOO worth it! Please stop in and let me know how you are post-surgery! All the best, Liza (marathon b4 mastectomy)
ReplyDeleteJoining in the prayers.
ReplyDeleteIntegration.
May it be so.
I'm with you Robin!
ReplyDelete(((((hugs)))))
I'm here through Karen's blog, saying prayers for you and sending healing and light-filled thoughts as you prepare for and go through your surgery. May you be well; may you be healed; may you be filled with peace and light.
ReplyDeleteRobin I will be thinking of you and hope all goes well.
ReplyDeleteSending up prayers in your name. I do hope your recovery is swift...and you can get back to all the good things in your life.
ReplyDeleteSuz
Robin,
ReplyDeleteMy candle is lit.
Holding you in prayer today..
ReplyDeleteSending prayers of healing and rest for you - and for your family.
ReplyDelete