A Surgery and His Slow Motion Time

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

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