This morning as I arose I had a text message from a dear friend who has struggled immensely the past 3.5 months. She had a knee replacement that went sepsis. She almost lost her life before the doctor caught the issue. She had to have the knee replaced a 2nd time and for 8 weeks she was on IV antibiotics. She is still on oral antibiotics. Only now is she beginning to get her life back. Our quartet went to sing for her Tuesday evening which was not like others we have done. This gal sings with us often as she has a wonderful voice and spirit. So, our visit was a reunion of her singing songs with us as had been in the recent past. Along with the visit we left a card with a gift of money. Her text was a thank you expressing deep appreciation. 

As I began to journal I wrote to Jesus how nice it was to have this text message. All of us dearly love this gal. It was then that I realized how much I had been lamenting to Jesus about Kathy’s issues and hadn’t thanked Him for all He was doing to not only heal her but to grow both of us in the process. Hebrews 12:11 says. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (This is the scripture to memorize for the Saturday morning group I have). This morning I realized the truth of this verse for me. No, this event of the stroke has been nothing but painful to experience. Yet, God has been disciplining me to keep my eyes of Jesus rather than the issue itself. Trusting Him in the midst of the storm is always easier to know than to put into place. Yet, the righteousness and peace cannot be known unless our eyes are brought to our GREAT HEALER and left there trusting. 

This morning I thanked God for all He is doing, has done, and will be doing to use this time to grow Kathy and me into more of His likeness. Yes, this has been painful, but I sure don’t want to lose out on the righteousness and peace that accompanies obedience to God.