July 24 – “4:30 a.m.”

Two days in a row.  4:30 a.m.  Now that’s a bit taxing even for an avowed early morning loving guy like myself.  The first one came just because I woke up.  That was it.  I was awake and my body made the independent decision overriding my mind that it was time to get up and start the day.  Not a bad thing, particularly.  I always get a lot of my computer work done before Chris gets up in the mornings anyway.  Great time to work, by the way.  Very quiet.  Easy to focus.  Even God thought a lot about them.  After all, he said “Joy comes in the morning.”  OK, so much for the commercial for mornings. 

The second 4:30 a.m. came so I could head to the hospital to pray with a friend and Seasider, Jennifer.  She was on tap to have her ninth surgery on a badly deteriorating ankle.  And this time … Chris got up and went with me.  No simple feat for someone who is so admittedly not a morning person.  And she handled it quite well, I must add.  Especially since the first place we ended up had no record of Jennifer in their system.   Seems a brand new hospital had been built right around the corner with an almost identical name.  The clerk gave us instructions and we headed back out to try again.  Our second attempt proved successful.  Very nice new facility on Blossom Street.  We found the “happy couple” in the surgery waiting area.  And just in time, too.  It wasn’t long and the nurses came to roll her away to a pleasant nap for Jennifer and a few hours of waiting-type stress for Bryan.  The three of us headed down to the cafeteria for some breakfast, but we arrived before they opened.  More waiting.  I have to give the staff some kudos, though.  Once they opened the doors, both ladies were very kind, and the food was actually not bad.  I mean, how can you go all that wrong with bacon and eggs, right? 

Jennifer made it through the surgery like a trooper, as usual.  Now the healing process begins again.  Absolutely no weight-bearing for six to eight weeks.  That to me sounds like the worst part of the whole ordeal.  She seems to have a great attitude about the whole thing, though.  A Bible study group she is in is coordinating getting some food out to them.  If I read the calendar right, they are even adding some puppy care to the ministry list.  And anyone who knows Jennifer understands that taking care of her puppy equals babysitting in the rest of the universe. 

Philippians 2:14-16 says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

Father, please accelerate the healing process for Jennifer.  And walk with Bryan as he goes through the ordeal with her.  Give him your patience and love.  Amen.