We have all experienced that, right?
A moment when all your senses are heightened. A moment in which you have zero impulse to react. Time is simply suspended. You observe what’s happening around you, but you don’t participate in it. It reminds me of standing below a distant eagle. wings spread wide, gliding across the edges of His wind. No matter how intently I watch the eagle, time slows as he surrenders to the will of God who carries him.
When I learned Braedon was in recovery (following the removal of all four wisdom teeth) … as eager as I was to see our son, my fingers would not properly don my mask. Fumbling upon tangling. One minute seemed more like ten.
Finally, masked up, I laid my mama eyes upon him.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
I tried to swallow my gasp.
The chair was shoved into a corner of a tight “recovery” space.
Braedon was shaking, rather violently. His knuckles were white as he gripped the arm of the chair.
The words lay on my tongue. Hello, buddy. Wow, you did great. Look at you.
Instead, my head slowly turned to the woman with the discharge instructions. She was sitting at her “desk” just a few feet away.
“That’s from the anesthesia,” her flat voice almost echoed.
I heard slow speech, syllable by syllable.
Looking back at my Braedon, I lay my warm hand upon his cold digits. With carefulness, I rubbed his arm. My soft, pliable fingers traveled over his veins wildly pronounced as he streamed his strength to quell the shaking.
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near (Phil 4:5).
At this point, I was aware how Spirit was beginning to propel me to get those words out. Braedon needed to hear my voice.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Phil 4:6).
As Braedon looked around, I could see him thinking, if that makes sense. It was in the way he held his face.
“Are you ok, Braedon? I am right here.”
As if an afterthought, “Oh! Hi, mom. Just trying to get my surroundings.”
You will tire if I continue telling each segment of this slow motion time.
Just heed this testimony that Our Omnipresent God can and will slow time. He continued to do so throughout surgery day 1 and day 2. As I look back on this experience, I believe God was guarding me from anxiety.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7).
Sometime in the evening of day 1, God brought to mind the time when Jason recovered from surgery and I did not stay downstairs with him.
Though Braedon was hesitant to let his mom bunk, I obeyed God’s leading. As I crept into my part of the couch, I crunched each leg up to allow more room for our son.
At 3 am, I awoke hearing Braedon spit. A fair amount of blood.
Thank you, Jesus. Would I have been here if You didn’t …
God surrounded us with a praying army. A woman I know who works in an oral surgery office, whose high school age daughter just had this surgery two weeks ago (I cannot make this up) messaged me with good medical wisdom, cautioned me about the use of gauze on Braedon’s day 2.
Somewhere in the midst of post-surgery day 2, this bizarre slow time zone began to lift.
We learned day 3 would be the worst in terms of pain and swelling for Braedon. God prepared me during the slow-motion time of days 1 and 2 to move forward in preparedness for the worst day 3.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (whether that is cooking your neighbor a meal or tending to your son after surgery. “Good works” is heaven’s term not ours), which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
I need to note here. We often miss the mark of how we need to prepare for things. Our earthly minds conjure up all sorts of possible failures as our anxiety rises. Lo and behold we fumble around to get ready.
I confess I went into Braedon’s surgery under-estimating its possible effects. Sometimes balancing our trust in the Lord and our part here on earth is tricky.
Our Good, Gracious, Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent God knows our struggles before we do.
Let’s go forth this day and hereafter remembering to thank Him for all He has faithfully brought us through.
Let’s gather our hearts as one as we sing a song of praise to Him.
Let’s be aware when He is guiding us.
For if we believe He never leaves, then let’s look for His presence in the every day. In the pre and post surgery, in school, in work, on the weekend, at bedtime, with our first cup of coffee, when our friend is grieving, when our spouse is swept by unbelief, when we pray, when we listen to heaven …
I stand with you as a child of God.
~~~
How may I pray for you?
Are you struggling in life? In faith?
Please email me at juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com
At this time, I am going to take a break from blogging. I pray to return sometime in October 2020.
En-Joy all that God has for you in these coming weeks.
Love in Christ,
Julie
https://Facebook.com/jdibble4Him
I’m glad you found your voice and were able to provide the reassurance and comfort Braedon needed. Enjoy you break from blogging. Have a Happy Labor Day weekend. Prayers for continued slow motion time… it moves too quickly, too fast, too often. We all need to slow down… especially when our children are still young and at home with us. Precious days – memorable years. Enjoy!
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Thank you for this Jan. The prayers and the encouragement. Enjoy your Labor Day as well. May God continue to flow through your pen!
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Thank you, {{{Julie}}} God bless you! 🙏🏽❤️
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Oh yes, I have experienced that same slow-motion feeling of time pausing. Thank God that He spoke those words of leading to you, and that you were able to love on Braedon. Truly we just never know when God will step into the very middle of our days. I pray now that your time of blogging break will be filled with His rest and leading. Blessings and love to you dear sister.
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Thank you so much Bettie for joining me here. I had a spiritual sense that you, too, have experienced the slow-motion sense of time in Him. I so appreciate you and the prayers of your faithful heart. Love, Julie
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God has good reasons for not letting us see the future. We could not proceed, if we did. As it is, he carries us.
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So true, Kathy. May God bless you and your husband with rest and recharge today. I will “see” you back here sometime in October. Love, Julie
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Yup, the Lord has perfect timing for all things. What jumped out at me is “Sometimes balancing our trust in the Lord and our part here on earth is tricky.”
I cannot say everything I want to yet. It is not time. I am writing it down though for when it is time. I can tell you that God did something huge in me last week, 1 week ago today, in fact. Now the “tricky” part.
I just ended today the last Bible study and now I am on a break from them. God’s orders!!!! I’m on overload!
Since then, this morning, I feel like a fish out of water. Trust and obey, like the hymn says, there’s no other way! Okay, but obey how!
God is slowing things down, slowing me down, and I have to trust it will produce peace.
I’m glad Braedon is doing better. I watched my son through appendicitis and kidney stones. As serious as each one was, I came away with some funny stories. God always adds humor, with me anyways.
Nothing worse than watching your loved ones in pain and you are powerless to help them.
I will still be writing some poetry and possibly blog stuff, although that is slowing down also.
We can pray for each other to yes, have major breakthroughs, and hear His voice clearer for the battle ahead.
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Good morning, Mary. I am expectantly praying and waiting for God to give you the green light to reveal! It is exciting. All the more, yes it is hard to slow down. It is hard to be still. It is hard to obey those things when we are used to motion. I need to focus on the amazing class I am taking Designed to Disciple and some other things like finishing the book! Let’s keep praying. Yes I stand with you, Mary, as His children asking His will be done in our little lives. Have a beauty-full day. Love, Julie
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Thank you for sharing Braedon’s wisdom teeth removal surgery. I am glad God prompted you to stay near your son throughout the night. I remember when my youngest had his wisdom teeth removed. He struggled but we made it through.
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Ah, I remember similar times, especially as a mama. God is so good to us, keeping us in all situations! I see I am late to reading this, but hoping all is well and praying that you are finding your time away a refreshing in the Lord.
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