One Small Seed Newsletter – Edition #233, July 2020
Once in a while, life seems to throw at us a curve or a screwball, which catches us unexpectedly and at times takes our breath away (literally). This is more common on an individual basis, but at times, it can be worldwide. The year twenty-twenty has been a prime example of both, for me and a lot of people. This story is about my faith and healing journeys—but mainly about the affection I have for my awesome God and His love for me. This love for Him is not complete unless I include all my dear friends and family.
When Covid-19 came, I thought we were in trouble, and I found out I was right. In February, I predicted that a black cloud was hanging over Washington D.C., and I was right. What I didn’t realize was that a black cloud was also hanging over me, even though I should have, since I had already mentioned to a few that my health was going down pretty fast. Assuming it was just old age, I was partly right, as my seventy-fifth birthday was coming up on July 10th. Over the last two years, my normal feelings had been changing, but I didn’t know it was something that could be fixed—or that someone would fix it. Concerned, I asked my doctor if there was any way to check my veins and arteries for blockages, and he said yes. All of this time, I was inspired to ask the questions.
A Health Crisis and the Journey to Healing
On June 15th, I had a heart cath at the Huntington VA by a doctor from St. Mary’s and found out I needed bypass surgery, and St. Mary’s would schedule it. On June 23rd, I had six-way bypass surgery with additional wounds for vein removal. After two days in ICU (an extra day because there were no rooms) and three days in a room, they sent me home.
There is nothing unique about what happened to me, but what happened to me may have left a more than unique impression on my spirit, soul, and mind.
Faith and Healing Journeys Teach Appreciation
One thing that I am learning is the definition of appreciation. According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word appreciation means: To place a value upon. But like a lot of words, there is a positive or negative degree to the definition. As we go through life, our experiences teach us what we should appreciate at a higher degree than other things. For instance, when we say we love something or someone, we are showing a form of appreciation. By saying love, we are also pointing to the degree because love has a higher degree than hate. If it is on a sliding scale, which it should be, we can adjust the scale up or down according to our learning and experience. This application, in my life, has been applied to many different places of my life.
God’s Sovereignty in Our Healing Journey
The highest degree of appreciation I have is to the Sovereign God I absolutely believe in. I have spent the majority of my life learning and teaching about Him and His ways. Among the many lessons I’ve learned, the plain truth is that God’s actions always have a purpose, plan, and process. Through these things, He teaches us about His attributes, affections, and will, which highlights the statement of John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (KJV)
In many areas of life, we may already know how much we appreciate something or someone, but each experience makes that appreciation grow deeper, wider, higher, and more established. We often overlook the strength of the bond that makes something so real to us. When a new experience comes along, we are shocked and ashamed because of the shock. It is not something to hide from, but it is something to remember.
Love and Support in Faith and Healing Journeys
The second highest evaluated blessing in my life is my wife, then family and friends. Everyone, I consider, a major role player in the process of my healing. I love and appreciate everyone. The process says I will be recovering for at least a year, so I still will need your prayers. Thank you with all my heart. God bless.
Your friend in Christ,
Rodney Roberts