Just Hold My Hand

It's a date that is etched in my mind, April 26th...
Every year on this date...the memories come flooding back...
It's been 53 years now,
But the years have not erased the vivid memories
Of the accident that occurred when 30% of my body was burned.

My thoughts each year are mostly of gratitude...
Year after year I am amazed of the grace of God that was upon me...
I am alive...
All my skin grafts are under my cloths,
How my body healed so fast...
And on and on...

But today I am remembering and thanking God
 For the nurse in the ER who held my hand...
As they scraped off the dead black skin from my body,
She told me to hold her hand...
Her hand bore the scars of a nasty burn she had received in her life...
She told me this as I held on tight and tried not to scream too loud.

And somehow the comfort and grace that she had received from God through her accident
Was transferred to me as I held her hand, through my similar trail.

Thinking back to that night I see how 2 Corinthians 1:4, was manifested.
"He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in a painful trail. We can bring them into the same comfort that God has pored out on us"

Yes, holding that nurse's burned, scarred hand somehow eased the pain and fear of the moment!

Isn't it beautiful to see how God can turn our circumstances into good, by comforting us and allowing us to comfort one another.

And sometimes that comfort is just holding a hand...

Happy Birthday Daddy!

This is my dad holding his 25th grandchild!

I am thinking about my Dad today on his19th birthday in heaven.
Wondering what a heavenly birthday is like. I am sure it is a celebration beyond what my mind could ever imagine!

When I remember you, Daddy, I remember your hard work, your diligence in caring and providing for your family, your devotion to God, your words of wisdom and advise...

But what always comes to the forefront of my mind when I remember you, are your tender words to me...

I remember you pulling me aside at unexpected times and whispering in my ear that I was special.

I remember you coming out to visit when I came from the hospital with #6, and then #7, and you washing the kitchen floor for me.

I remember you telling me after one of those visits, when I was so exhausted, and tired from the everyday of childrearing, you said, "you are so beautiful, Dorothy!" I remembering thinking what kind of glasses do you have on???

I doubted the words I heard, but I remembered them, and that is what I treasure most as I remember you today, Daddy, your tender words!!!

Yes, there were other words I heard growing up as a child that I remember too, that were harsh...
But thankfully, by God's grace and by the gift of forgiveness they can barely be remembered now.

So Happy Birthday Daddy, I look forward to giving you a big hug when I see you again!!!