Yesterday was Cancer Check-Up Day for Serenity. (Cancer loses again!!!! Wahooo!!) And I couldn’t really pray. Unless you count those “groanings too deep for utterance” the Holy Spirit helps us with. Mine kind of came out like, “Arrrrggggghhhhhhhh, I hate cancer.” Or, “Why can’t I get the top off this bottle? The whole world hates me! Everything is falling apart! I hope Jesus comes back soon.”
Overreact much?
Mostly, I just tried to occupy my mind while we waited for the all-clear. But I didn’t worry about the lack of prayer, for two reasons. 1.) I do pray for Serenity. Frequently. I just couldn’t form an articulate thought yesterday. 2.) Other people pray for us. A lot.
Every time our family goes through a crises or a concern, we get tons of emails and phone calls from people we love. Like yesterday. I was waiting for Serenity to text with news, good or bad. And I was also packing, cleaning, and prepping to drive out of town for Wendell’s back surgery the next day.
Stress much?
The office phone rang for the seventy-fifth time in an hour, and I answered while I finished typing something into the schedule. So I wasn’t immediately prepared for the sound of our friend Peter’s voice. Peter from Romania, who still speaks with his beautiful, distinctive accent. Peter who lived in our neighborhood with his family for a decade but has recently moved away. I couldn’t even fathom how he knew about the surgery but he said, “You tell the Doctor that Stela and I and our boys, we are praying for him. We love him very much, and we will pray. That’s all. Good-bye.”
And they will.
So, while I sit in the waiting room of the hospital with my muddled mind and my bad coffee, I’m not going to worry about being unable to pray anything more articulate than, “Help us, Jesus.” Because I know Peter and the rest of you have us covered.
Thank you for that.
How wonderful to have such a good friend who would take the time to call you at this time. You are definitely in our thoughts today. We are praying and will continue to pray for Wendell and for you!
I always feel your prayers, dear friend. Thank you.
We’ve definitely got you covered. Hurrah for Serenity’s news! And I’m saying a prayer for Wendell.
Thank you, Katie! It always means so much to feel covered over a large geographical area. That probably has no spiritual significance. But it means something to me. I love to think of prayers going up from beautiful Boston.
I don’t know what is going on with Wendell’s back, but you definitely have our prayers. I also HATE (“I’m using the word HATE here!”) cancer, so I groan right along with you…… ((((HUGS)))).
Yes, we do.
I have been thinking of and praying for you all day! Rejoicing over Reni’s Hallelujah news, still rending heaven for Wendells healing and quick recovery! Then I read this and you had me crying like a fool… just today I picked up a rotten tomato and really really missed Peter! Not just because I never got rotten tomatoes from him, but because He and Stella were always there, and I felt a void – I think this helped a bit, knowing they are praying from afar – of course they are, they are family & that is what family’s do – we pray! love you so much and hope you can find a moment or three to rest!
Thank you, my friend. I appreciate you so much.