a bumpy ride with a stable partner

Well, it has been a while since I've been here. Didn't realize it had been so long. 

Quite the title don't you think? On March 12 my mom had a stroke and fell down 13 steps, head first face down. Quite the wake up call from my dad that morning. When EMS arrived, they suspected a stroke. When we got to the ER, this was confirmed and appropriate actions we taking place. As awful as it was for my dad to find my mom at the bottom of the stairs thinking she had died, it was a blessing because we called 911 right away and she was able to receive the "stroke reversing" medication in time (TPA - needs to be given within four hours of last "normal"). The effects of the stroke were reversing within 30 mins of her getting the medication.

This journey has definitely been bumpy for all of us and a bit frustrating for my mom. But from that very day this all happened we had a partner, a Partner that never left her side and sustained us all through a horrific experience. That night or the next morning, can't remember, the Lord popped a verse and three chapters of scripture into my head. I had learned many years ago to always grab a Bible or write the verses down because I know God is trying to tell me something. Well, that morning the "something" He was trying to tell me has brought hope and encouragement to all of us since we read it and as we continue to read it and remind each other of it. The verse was

Isaiah 40:20

"so that people may see and know,

may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

I felt sure God was trying to tell us all that my mom’s recovery would be so amazing that people who learned of her stroke would only see God. So far that has definitely been true. All of the medical personnel involved with my mom’s care are amazed at how quickly she is progressing given the location of her stroke and the deficits she has faced and continues to face.

Along with this verse, I was led to read Psalms 91-93. There is too much in those chapters to quote everything but needless to say we found much comfort in them. I hope I don’t forget how my mom laid in her ICU bed, closed her eyes and soaked in the words as my Bible app read those passages to her. The voice was deep and the words soothing as we both listened to the comforting balm of God’s holy words as we held each other’s hands.

God does not always choose to rescue us from disaster or heartache, but He promises to be there for us and with always. He promises to be our ever present help in time of need. We must not become so overwhelmed by the circumstances that we are going through that we do not hear or listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit, as He tries to bring comfort, hope and direction in our time of need.