There are so many privileges we often take for granted, aren’t there? Sometimes it’s not until we lose them that we realize we didn’t appreciate them enough. We can live day in and day out, taking no thought how dependent we are on God to give us every single breath we take.
In these last months, I’ve been reflecting on a memory from 50 years ago. I was insecure and just out of high school and working as a nurse’s aide in a Good Samaritan care facility. Most of the residents were elderly, but there were several young ones as well.
A young man was paralyzed from the neck on down and on a ventilator because of an accident. I can’t imagine how trapped he must have felt in his body.
But Orville made the best of it. With his bed head raised, he held a stick in his mouth with a rubber tip on the end to turn pages in books, change TV channels, or play chess. There were no eye gaze technological conveniences at that time.
Attached to a breathing tube at his neck, he often had to be suctioned. I was so afraid I couldn’t remove and replace the breathing tube quickly and efficiently enough, so I would call someone else to do it. But Orville kept after me, ensuring me I would do fine. Why I was one of the few he trusted, I’ll never know. Eventually, I did it and got a smile out of him.
One sunny day, a couple of other aides and I convinced him to let us take him outside in a wheelchair. There was no portable ventilator, but we assured him we would take turns with an ambu bag to rhythmically keep forcing air into his lungs. He soon had enough, and we never did it again.
Today, after having experienced myself at times through the years what it feels like to be starving for air, it boggles my mind that we would even try such a thing. It must have petrified him to be at the mercy of three naive gals and an ambu bag.
We may not be paralyzed and on a ventilator like Orville was, but we all have suffered loss and pain in one way or another, whether physically or emotionally. Some visible and some invisible to the human eye. But always known by God.
Sometimes there are people who don’t understand the depths of emotions related to grief, trauma and how our bodies remember. They spout Christian platitudes that only intensify our pain by making us feel we’re lacking faith if we still struggle. But faith is not a superficial “Jesus band-aid.” Real faith acknowledges and laments our pain to our God who knows and cares about the deepest pain and feelings of our hearts.
Vaneetha Risner, who understands deep loss and suffering, says it well:
“Real faith is willing to lament, which in Scripture is weeping and mourning. It’s acknowledging our pain, telling God how we really feel, bringing Him our doubts and questions. It’s worship in raw form—grace poured out through tears.”
~ Vaneetha Risner
“God wants us to come to Him in truth. And so the Bible doesn’t whitewash the raw emotions of its writers who often cry out to God in anguish, fear, and frustration when life ceases to make sense.”
~ Vaneetha Risner
Susie Teramura shares a comforting truth for when we feel unseen:
“The truth is, God sees me. ‘El Roi,’ the God who sees me, is His name. He sees all of me, body, soul, and mind. Others may ignore me, overlook me or may not understand my heart, but I am truly and completely known by the One who created me. He sees the injustice, the wounds, the broken pieces and the shame. He sees it all and loves me just the same. (Gen.16:13, Ps.139:1-3)”
~ Susie Teramura
What pain are you carrying? What losses have or are you suffering? Feel free to share your story with us here or privately with someone you can trust, but especially with God who cares about you more than you’ll ever know and will never condemn you.
Nature Retreat
“This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it.”
Isaiah 42:5
We were privileged to take a short drive/trip to Lacrosse/Onalaska, WI, at the beginning of this month. So beautiful!
My brother from Arizona just sent me some pics from their trip to a cabin on Mt Lemmon, so I’m adding some of his awesome photos – Abert’s Squirrel, Cliff Chipmunk, Steller’s Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-eyed Junco, and an adult Greater Short-horned Lizard.
Freed to Fly 
For many of us, we don’t even consider our breathing throughout the day. Our bodies automatically breathe in and out. Yet, you’ve reminded me, Trudy, that for some breathing is laboured, or requiring devices such as your patient from 50 years ago. Breath is life, and it’s God’s breath that breathed life into us. Yes, may we never take for granted this life He has given us–the One who knows each breath we take, and cares about our pain and sufferings, and never leaves us even when we lament! Love your photos! Taking short drives out of our neighbourhoods to places just a few miles away can be so refreshing! I’m glad you recently got to do just that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lynn, for your reflections. Yes, may we never take it for granted. I guess our trip was only short compared to some vacations. 🙂 Because of my health issues, we tried a short trip of 5 hours and stayed two nights. I overdid it and ended up getting sick and found it hard to breathe the night before we headed home, but now that I’m more on top of it, I can appreciate the blessings in it. My soul was still refreshed. 🙂 Love, hugs, and blessings to you!
LikeLike
Dear, sweet Trudy! Tears fell as I read your words. You will never know how much I needed them today. I have been in such anguished prayer, crying, pouring my heart out to God. Lament. That word hit such a raw nerve today. That is exactly what this is. I am SO thankful El Roi sees me. He sees you. He sees every wounded, broken, burdened hear, and He loves us so. I appreciate you so much and am so grateful for your faithfulness to God’s call on your life to write. You are a huge blessing to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Cheryl, I’m so sorry for your anguish. And I’m so grateful you are encouraged by our God who sees our “wounded, broken, burdened” hearts! Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate you, too! Love, hugs, and blessings of God’s strength for each day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your story about Orville and his positive attitude even in his paralyzed condition truly humbled me, Trudy. What courage it takes to celebrate and embrace life as he did when his old way of living is gone. That also takes faith in the God who sees us, knows us and loves us.
Your photos from your trip are stunning, too. The gift of photography must run in the family! As always, your brother’s wildlife captures stun me with their clarity. Hope your October is as blessed as your September has been. Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words, Martha. I hope you have a blessed October, too, and Danny continues to recover. Love, hugs, and blessings from our God who sees us, knows us, and loves us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful post Trudy & as you mentioned in your comment to me, it appears God has a theme at the moment as our posts are definitely related.
Blessings & hugs sweet friend, Jennifer
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jennifer. When I read your post, I thought that, too. 🙂 Blessings and hugs to you, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trudy, I’m so glad you shared your memory about Orville this week. It’s amazing that we can glean encouraging truth from something that happened 50 years ago, and that’s exactly what you have done. It is truly comforting to know that God sees us like no one else. As always, your photos are lovely too. Love and hugs to you, dear friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words, Lois. Yes, it truly is amazing we can glean encouraging truth from something so long ago. Something that God brings to light in our present lives. Love and hugs to you, too, dear friend. And blessings of comfort from our God who sees us like no one else!
LikeLike
Nuthatch birds are among my favorite to watch – how they walk down trees and limbs head-first so captures my attention. Your story of Orville is so impactful – that he encouraged you to take a step outside of your comfortable, the power of someone in a position of helplessness and reliance being the one to help the helper. What a gift you both gave each other. I would say that when you took him outside, you helped make a decision he’d been struggling to make. In our family this week we were confronted with grief, and we talked about the ways to speak to the owner’s loss, the family’s loss – and, yes, we need to lament to God – and to each other – and recognize, not sweep under a rug, loss. I love how God vintages stories from our past to speak into today – thank you for sharing it with us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Maryleigh, your comment brings tears to my eyes. I never thought of it that way – one in a position of helplessness helping the helper. Yes! He truly did give me more confidence in caring for those who were dependent on me. Thank you so much for that insight! You have given me even more meaning to that story God has brought to my remembrance. I’m so sorry your family is confronted with grief. Yes, it’s so important to recognize and lament our losses and pain rather than sweep them under the rug. Love, hugs, and blessings of God’s special strength and comfort as you and your family lament!
P.S. I love your new focus on letting go and letting God at your blog! I definitely need more of that.
LikeLike
Not able to get a good breath is a horrible feeling. I’ve rarely felt that myself, but watching others struggle shows me that it’s something I hope I don’t have to endure. Orville was blessed to have you caring for him. Hope you’re well, friend! Love you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is, Lisa. I’m so glad you don’t have that struggle, but I know you have struggles, too, that aren’t easy at all. Love, hugs, and blessings of strength for each day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deqr Trudy, it’s been a very hard week for me, and your words here were just the comfort and uplifting that I needed.. thank you so much for sharing your precious story of encouragement, grace filled words by Vaneeta, and beautiful nature photos! I ended up in the ER on our anniversary with pneumonia and a UTI. So God is surely helping me to recover! Blessed prayers for you today too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Bettie, I am so sorry. My heart breaks for you. You go through so much already and I’m sure this only intensified your chronic illnesses. I’m so grateful your heart was comforted and encouraged here. Thank you for sharing and for praying for me, too. It’s such an unfathomable blessing that God holds us so lovingly and tenderly through everything, isn’t it? Love, hugs, and blessings of further recovery and strength in body and heart for each moment of every day and night!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is so comforting to know that we can be honest with God, that he sees us as we truly are and he cares. The photos from your trip are lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lesley. Yes, it truly is comforting that we can be honest with God and He sees us as we truly are. Love, hugs, and blessings of God’s boundless compassion and love!
LikeLiked by 1 person