“Come lay down beside me.” She patted the blanket by her side where pillows surrounded her, creating a nest. I laid down in the nest. “Here, hold my hand,” she said about the hands that are so much like my sister’s. I placed my hand on top of her soft skin to hold her arm steady, the tremors stopped.
“This is my favorite,” she said as she snuggled closer. I thought of the nursery rhyme about two bugs snug in a rug. She tucked her halo of blonde curls under my chin. “That doctor scared me. He was so gruff. I’m afraid of infection now.” This was the response of the brave girl whose smile had lit up the room in spite of him.
“You asked him great questions. Either you have done your research or you are the smartest person I know. Or both. He was impressed. I don’t think he knew the answers though. That’s why he was short with you.
“Yeah…”
I didn’t feel my words soothed her, and I agreed with her. He was very gruff. I had tried to make him laugh. So had Taylor, but he wanted no part of it.
“Maybe he’s going through something hard…” she pondered.
My sister, Joan, had told me the night before her daughter was admitted, Taylor had shared her fears about the twelve day hospital stay. There are so many unanswered questions. What’s unknown is often harder than what’s known. So, they began to pray together for all the people at their church, one at a time, one after another, and Taylor’s tremors had stopped.
She hasn’t been able to attend the prayer meetings she regularly attends before the Sunday services, which she loves. In place of being there, she wrote a prayer and sent it to the Pastor to share at the meeting. He one upped her though, and read it to the congregation to conclude his sermon.
Afterwards, people followed up with her to say it had felt as though her prayer was directed to them personally. How great is our God. She had been struggling with her debilitation and wondering how He could use her illness for His good. His response had been prompt.
It’s always amazing to me how God knows each of our hearts and what our needs are. He will supply them if we turn to Him. How many times have I experienced that? How many times have I doubted that?
“Come on let’s pray,” I said then. “Let’s talk to Jesus.” And so we began. I don’t really know how long we prayed, time has a way of ceasing when we still ourselves before God.
And then it happened again. The tremors stopped. Her breath grew as calm as a baby’s in a deep sleep. I was ready to shift positions but I didn’t want to wake her. She shifted. “I’m ready for bed,” Taylor said. “I don’t want to fall asleep until they give me the second round of meds because then I can’t fall back to sleep.”
I made up my little bed beside the window that looked out over a Tucson landscape. We told each other stories. So much is stored up in a heart. How does it hold it all?
The last round of meds arrived and there were no more interruptions during the night. There were no tremors. We both slept like two bugs snuggled in a rug till morning.
That evening, I was puttering about the room when Taylor said, “Auntie Debbie, I just want to tell the nurses I love them. But I worry it will be too much for them.”
“I know what you mean,” I said. Sometimes it is too much, I thought. But I go ahead and say it anyway. “Their response can be, ‘Yeah, see you tomorrow.’ Say it if that’s how you feel.”
The day shift nurses came into the room to say their shift was over and they were heading home for the night. My niece responded, tears rolling down her cheeks, “I know this might be too much, but I love you guys and everything you’ve done to take care of me.”
The nurse Teresa came running over to her side, “I love you too, Taylor.” And then both nurses embraced her.
And sometimes it’s not too much.
The Lord God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things and He upholds them by the word of His power. I will be praying 🙏 for Taylor. Such a sweet spirit to care about her nurses. The Lord Jesus Christ sees that too.
Sing over her Lord while she sleeps. May her sleep be sweet and wake up refreshed each day. We thank you Jesus that you go before her, you got her back, you above her, beneath her, and all around her. Most importantly You live inside her. She is never alone. Not for even a second.
You are her shield, her exceeding great reward. Hide her in the cleft of the rock…under the shadow of your wings. You are her high strong tower, her refuge. You are her Master, Savior, Healer, King, Redeemer and Friend.
We pray for an abundance of mercy, grace, loving kindness and compassion to be poured out on Taylor. Cause people to be kind to her. May she get her meds on time routinely…take that stress away from her Lord.
You are her Redeemer, Faithful and True. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. We our grateful you are the King of kings and Lord of Lords. We bless and praise your Name dear Jesus and know you love her dearly and will take care of her. Your are her Great Physician and we pray for her to be healed and made whole.
To you oh God be all the honor, glory and power for ever and ever amen! ✝️✝️✝️
Jesus’ eyes are always upon us.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DUDx8RSQDbg
The song you can look up on YouTube is: His Eyes by Steven Curtis Chapman.
How is that we have never met face to face and yet find such a deep connection of your spirit to my niece’s. “What a God!” You have regenerated Taylor through this beautiful prayer. I will read it to her and treasure it always. I am so deeply touched. Thank you.
❤️
Thank you! ❤️
Amen Sister! It is our great God! Jesus Christ is the head of his body…we are a family in Him. When one hurts, we all hurt. When one rejoices, we rejoice. We love the brethren and pray for one another. God placed her on my heart to pray for her.
Taylor is a daughter of the Most-High God; bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. She is fearfully and wonderfully made and every hair on her head is numbered by God. Before she was in her mother’s womb, He knew her. She is made in His image.
Remember that infection or any other fearful thing is just a name. Fear has torment. It reminds me of this song: In The Light of His Love. It talks about Joshua and Caleb who brought a good report before all the sons of Jacob saying we should go up and take the land for the Lord is with us and who can stand. But 10 spies brought a bad report of the fear of giants in the land and bringing fear and unbelief into the camp of Israel. Then there is this part:
Fear, I refuse to be tormented any longer.
Fear, I refuse to be afraid another day.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, bow the knee and flee
In the Name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave right now.
Jesus told us to fear not! He is with us always. He is the first and the last and the living one. He died and behold he is alive forevermore. For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Taylor you have the mind of Christ Jesus. Your Lord Jesus Christ is the Sovereign ruler over all. God has highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. Remember Taylor,
What is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Eph 1:19-23
No matter what is said to you Taylor, they are words subject to the Lord Jesus Christ. You keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. Praise the one who is your life. Now Taylor:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication….Ephesians 6:10-18
Follow the Lord of hosts. He is your deliverer. He is your peace. The Holy Spirit is your Comforter. God loves you Taylor with an everlasting love. The joy of the Lord is your strength! There are many praying with you Taylor!
God makes all things new (Rev 21:5). I’ll put the link below but if it does not show up you can look up in YouTube the song: All Things New by Steven Curtis Chapman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKx_hx5itIM
I have my church, other churches and people praying for Taylor and all of you.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14, NASB)
Oh my goodness, I don’t know what to say. This is so beautiful to find at the end of a long day… just like the faith I see rising up and pouring out of Taylor in spite of so much uncertainty. She seems to draw love to her from every corner. Thank you so much for all these prayers! This is so precious.
Yeah Taylor! Praise God for the faith rising up and pouring out of her!
2 Kings 6:16 So he said, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
2 Kings 6:17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Yahweh, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of bhorses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
For all of you, I pray the following video will bless you abundantly with joy and laughter. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc
Our Most Sovereign, gracious heavenly Father, we come to you in the mighty august Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth the Son of the Living God. Today is the day that You have made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. We bless and praise Your Name, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. The One who Sustains all things. We lift our hands in praise, love and adoration unto You oh Lord for You are holy, just, righteous and true.
Faithful and True are You oh Lord! Look what you have done for Taylor already. Every morning Your mercies are new and You have brought her through another day to the praise of Your glorious grace! By Your strong mighty right arm You have led your daughter through these past days. For the remaining days ahead, You will lead her and guide her for You who began a good work in her will be faithful to complete it.
Taylor, your Redeemer Jesus is Faithful and True. The Lord fights for you. When King David was in conflict with the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5:19 we see:
Then David asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”
In yet another battle, in 2 Samuel 5:22-24 we see:
Then the Philistines yet again came up and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.
So David asked of Yahweh, and He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.
And it will be that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then Yahweh will have gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
The Captain of your Salvation Taylor, the Lord of Hosts is fighting your battle! He crushes the enemy! As a daughter of the Most-High God, you have bowed the knee to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and confessed His Name. You stand on God’s Holy Word. Think God’s thoughts after him. Bless and praise His Name, the Name of all Names! Worship the One who has given you your life, a future and a hope! He is your God! Thoughts can come from all different places into our minds. We test them against Scripture. Cast down imaginations that do not conform to Scripture. You are a warrior in the Army of the Lord! Listen to this song, Army of the Lord:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=UI4bWJMMNUo
Spiritually, warfare begins with God. We start with Holy Scripture, the sword of the Spirit and use many other weapons such as prayer and worship. In Church today we sang the song: Yes I Will. Immediately, I knew you had to hear this song Taylor as it is for you. Another song to honor our Sovereign God and follow Him into battle. God will not fail you now! He is working all things out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrTv39-lG4M
Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit Taylor.
🙏💕🙏💖
Praise be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus! He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominion or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, And in Him all things hold together.
You oh God have hung the earth on nothing, stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. In all this vastness, before the foundation of the world you chose Taylor, set you love upon her and made her your own. Yet, like King David, we experience times of adversity and suffering in this life. Our emotions which are God-given and good seem to run the gamut during times of trial. Nevertheless, our rock is strong enough to understand. Jesus knows the feelings of our infirmities. He knows we can get weary in the battle. We need times of refreshing from Him. God is our refuge. Whatever is going on all around Taylor at any moment, she is in You…her refuge. She takes comfort and safety and abides in You.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAgc24Ae4HM
You are Taylor’s mighty fortress oh God!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPRYL-P47aM
Precious Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for Your abundance of grace, mercy and times of refreshing in every second of Taylor’s life.
May this prayer, REFUGE, from the Valley of Vision bless you:
O Lord,
Whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible,
Order things that they may neither hinder, nor discourage me,
nor prove obstacles to the progress of thy cause;
Stand between me all strife, that no evil befall,
no sin corrupt my gifts, zeal, attainments;
May I follow duty and not any foolish device of my own;
Permit me not to labour at work which thou wilt not bless,
that I may serve thee without disgrace or debt;
Let me dwell in thy most secret place under thy shadow,
where is safe impenetrable protection from
the arrow that flieth by day,
the pestilence that walketh in darkness,
the strife of tongues,
the malice of ill-will,
the hurt of unkind talk,
the snares of company,
the perils of youth,
the temptations of middle life,
the mournings of old age
the fear of death.
I am entirely dependent upon thee for support, counsel, consolation.
Uphold me by thy free Spirit,
and may I not think it enough to be preserved from falling,
but may I always go forward,
always abounding in the work thou givest me to do.
Strengthen me by thy Spirit in my inner self
for every purpose of my Christian life.
All my jewels I give to the shadow of safety that is in thee-
my name anew in Christ,
my body, soul, talents, character
my success, wife, children, friends, work,
my present, my future, my end.
Take them, they are thine, and I am thine, now and for ever.
I love the way Taylor gave her doctor the benefit of the doubt, that he might be going through something hard and that’s why he’s gruff. Her attitude is a hint of God’s love, peace, and joy that permeates her hospital room. (I can tell, just from what you’ve shared here.) The nurses feel it! And I’m guessing everybody who enters feels it too–the fresh wind of the Spirit. Praise God for your testimony, Taylor, Joan, and Deb!
Oh thank you, Nancy. My small but mighty community here is so special to me. It feels like a “family” all its own. Sometimes words aren’t enough, “conversations” are cut short, maybe sometimes I misunderstand things, just like in life, and I wish we could all come around the table together for a good meal. What a conversation that will be! I feel the Lord provides that for us, heart to heart. I am so grateful for wise women like you in my life. I just wanted to tell you that. ❤️
Praise God you hear wisdom in the words I write, Deb!!
I surely do. They are always like a breath of fresh air.
I’m blushing, Deb! Thank you for YOUR encouragement.
I just found this in pending approval, not by me but by WordPress. It’s a very special blessing to my family. ❤️
I found this one too! And sent Taylor the note and link. Thank you!