A Beautiful Name

        My name means “princess.” I like that! It also means “mother of all nations.” I’m not crazy about that. Too much responsibility! How ’bout we stick with the royal angle!

        When I was born, “Sarah” wasn’t popular. In fact, it ranked #138^th.

        A name that far down the list didn’t rate recognition—even on Romper Room*, a TV show I watched daily before I was old enough to go to actual school. Every day I sat patiently (or not so patiently), eyes glued on Miss I-Forgot-Her-Name’s face as she looked through her Magic Mirror and spoke those mesmerizing words:

“Romper, bomper, stomper, boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me do.

Magic mirror, tell me today. Did all my friends have fun at play?”

        Miss I-Forgot-Her-Name spied Lindas, Debbies, MaryAnns. etc. But Sarahs? Not once ever! My wounded little heart! Of course she wouldn’t call my name. I mean, one ranking #138 down the popularity list? No way.

        But my name wasn’t chosen for its popularity, which you’ve already gathered by now. I was, instead, named after one of my ancestors.

        Great-Grandmother Sarah descended from Pennsylvania Dutch folks who fled persecution in Germany—this group historically known as Palatine immigrants. Many of these hard-working families settled in the United States and farmed, for the most part. She descended from survivors and was one herself. After all, she and her husband buried four of their eight children within a very short time. I don’t know how she endured that—how she went on living. But she did.

       I think Great-Grandmother Sarah must’ve been and incredible woman. All I learned about her was from my mother who spoke lovingly of her grandma and shared warm memories of summers when she and her siblings spent time on the farm.

        Thus, I realized my rare name was selected with care, and I decided Sarah was a fine name. What an honor!

        But I was the one and only Sarah in school all thirteen years.

        In elementary school, when our teacher was absent, a substitute took her place. On those days we students were to place our handmade paper name placards on our desks to help the “temp.”

        One particular time, the substitute walked down the row where I sat, paused, and eyed my name placard. “Sarah,” she said matter-of-factly.

        Uh oh. What’d I do wrong now? Will I be sent to stand in the hallway? Will she smell my breath to see if I was chewing gum? Did she see me passing a note to my classmate?

        Nope. She addressed none of those things. Instead, she smiled and said, “Sarah. What a beautiful name!”

        I sat a little taller that day. And the next time I wrote my name atop the manilla lined paper, I took great care penning each letter.

        As an adult, this “princess” came to love her name—even though by now Sarah has made a comeback more than once. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, yes. I do own a crown. It just seemed fitting, and—hey—it only cost a buck at the dollar store!

***

       There’s a name that wasn’t chosen by either the man of the house or his betrothed. Instead, an angel told the betrothed mother-to-be that her son (yes, a simultaneous gender-reveal and naming announcement) would be named Jesus and come to bring salvation to His people. He could do that—save them from their sins.

        Jesus. “Salvation.” The Savior of the world, in every sense—including dying on a cross and rising from the dead—lived up to His Name. Fulfilled God’s divine plan to bring salvation to this lost world.

        Not only did the Baby’s gender reveal and naming take place simultaneously, but God’s purpose in His coming to earth as man was imparted to that mother as well. Then the Babe’s step-father, then shepherds, and the list goes on.

        Jesus! Not categorized on a popularity list. No. For Jesus is the Name above all names. What a beautiful name!

I Know of a Name

I Know Of A Name, A Beautiful Name - Christmas Hymn Lyrics & Music

I know of a Name, a beautiful Name, that unto a Babe was giv'n;
The stars glittered bright thru’out that glad night, & angels praised God in heaven.

Refrain: That beautiful Name, that beautiful Name, from sin has pow'r to free us!
That beautiful Name, that wonderful Name, that matchless Name is Jesus!

The One of that Name, my Savior became, my Savior of Calvary;
My sins nailed Him there, my burdens He bare, He suffered all this for me. [Refrain]

I love that blest Name, that wonderful Name, made higher than all in heav'n;
’Twas whispered, I know, in my heart long ago—to Jesus my life I’ve giv'n. [Refrain]

(a portion of the hymn, by Jean Perry, 1916, public domain)

#beautifulname #namemeaning #RomperRoom #greatgrandma #Palatine #Jesus #nameaboveallnames

*TV show for children, running from 1953 till 1994

Photo Credit: Romper Room teacher w/ magic mirror—ar.inspiredpencil.com, 1950’s classroom—br.pinterest.com, 

Mary w/ angel—freebibleimages.com, “Jesus”—ar.inspiredpencil.com   

Letter to a Dead Woman

        “Sarah, do you often write to dead people?” you might ask.

        “Nope. This is a first and likely last, but who knows.” (Wink!)

        Why did I do this? Actually, there’s a fairly good reason—at least in my twisted mind.

        Back up five years—

        Our developmentally disabled son expressed wanting to write his life story, even though it was far beyond his ability; yet Min held to his conviction adding, “I want to do this for my birth mother.”

        Who could argue with that? But we cautioned our son. 1) This would challenge him to the core. 2) He must tell the truth even when it hurts. 3) There’d be no quitting mid-stream.

        He said, “I’m good with that.”

        So, I offered to be Min’s scribe and Brian technical advisor, but we all needed to bathe this idea in prayer.

        Seven months later we began.

        Prior to our start date, though, Min’s literary agent called. “You and Brian need to figure how you’ll handle backstory.”

        I didn’t have a clue, but that set me to thinkin’—and prayin’. Then a few nights later I woke saying aloud, “Letters!” I jumped out of bed, shuffled to the living room, put on a night light, and scrawled notes.

        Ideas flowed.

        Next morning, I filled Brian in on the letters idea to tell backstory, etc. He like it and added a few more future “recipients” and—ahem—“authors” to the list.

        The completed letters were penned before, during, and after the actual memoir. A Home for Min Soo—Putting Together the Pieces of My Life now holds ones that made the cut—some bringing laughter, some tears.

        For this third anniversary of the book’s release, I share with you the letter I penned—yes—to a dead woman. As you read, maybe you’ll understand why this mom composed it. It appears here in its unedited form (a portion of which isn’t in the completed manuscript).

                                                                       Autumn of 2008

Dear Mrs. Beethoven,                                                              

            This letter comes to share the impact your story had on me in relation to our son. When I mentioned you to him, he asked, “Is she dead?”

            “Quite,” I replied.

            “Did she die before Reagan was President?”

            “Way before. Even a hundred years before Lincoln,” I replied.

            “Was Grandma alive when he was President?”

            “Lincoln?”

            “No. Reagan. Lincoln got shot and died. Reagan got shot too, but he didn’t die.”

            “Not then,” I said. “He did later.”

            “Before I was born?”

            “After.”

            A jovial voice chimed in from the other room, “Who’s on first?”

            “I don’t know,” I said, “and you’re not helping, Brian Hampshire!”

            “I don’t know is on third,” he shouted back.

            “Who said that?” Min asked.

            “Your Dad,” I answered.

            “No. I mean on TV.”

            “Oh.” I laughed. “Abbott and Costello—their famous baseball routine.”

            “Are they dead?”

            I nodded.

            “After he got shot?” Min asked.

            “After who?”

            “President Reagan. He was a movie star. Did he know Abbott and Costello?”

            “I don’t know,” I said.

            “I don’t know is still on third,” came another interruption from the other room.

            Min always asks if a person is dead. He’s predictable that way.

            When my sister and I were young, our family sponsored a Korean orphan through World Vision.

Min saw his photo in my keepsake basket and asked about him, along with an old World Vision Magazine with the Korean Orphan Choir pictured on front. “They’re wearing hanboks!”

            “Yep. They toured in the United States, and we went to hear them sing.” I remembered a YouTube video of the orphan choir singing on Art Linkletter’s Hollywood Talent Scout Show! “Wanna hear them?

            “Yeah.” Min wondered aloud if any might be family.           

            “On one tour a deaf girl sang in sign language.”

            “Deaf like Beethoven,” he exclaimed. 

            “Hmm. Hadn’t thought of that.”

            At the end, Art Linkletter explained the children were orphaned, like he’d been.

            “He was an orphan too?” Min asked.

            “Apparently.”

            “Is he dead?”

Remember, Mrs. Beethoven. This started with a question about you, a dead woman with a tragic history that struck a chord with me. How did you—thought of as a sour note by your husband —overcome your discordant life and turn it into a symphony through your son, Ludwig?

            One day Min came home from middle school and asked, “What’s a retard?”

            I went wide-eyed. “A not-very-nice way of saying someone has a mental disability. Did someone call you that?”

            “Maybe,” he said quietly. “Am I a retard?”

            I hesitated. “Retarded, yes.”

            Min looked horrified. “That’s not very nice!”

            “You asked, and we always said we’d be honest, even about hard stuff. The noun ‘retard’ isn’t nice, but the verb ‘retard’ or ‘retarded’ shares another definition.

            Our son adores dictionaries. He’ll read one over a story any day, so my mentioning “definition” caught his attention.

            “Shall I explain?” I asked.

            Min nodded and situated himself on the couch.

            I thumbed through our music books, pulled out a concerto, and sat next to Min—opening it midway and pointing to a word on the page. “Read that.”

            “I can’t read cursive,” he argued. “Is it okay to say cursive since it has ‘curse’ in it?”

            “You’re changing the subject, and it’s not cursive. Just fancy-like.” I tapped my finger near the word. “Read it.”

            “Retard.” He bobbed his head back in surprise.

            “It’s a musical term. When you asked if you’re retarded and I said yes, that just means you think slower.”

            “Because of NF?”

            “Probably, or the other undiagnosed genetic something. In music, though, it’s part of the masterpiece.”

            “Oh. Can I get a snack?”

            “Sure.”

            Why write this to you, Mrs. Beethoven? Because our sons hold something in common. Genius? In a way. For your son? Music, of course. Despite Ludwig’s disability, he continued his life’s work.

Min’s genius? Perhaps the fact he hears a song and knows what production’s background music it is (some of these works composed by your son, by the way).

            I imagine you find this a mockery compared to Ludwig’s gift, but please stick with me. Recognizing the background music? Likely due to his Asperger’s. But Min’s true giftedness comes from his heart!

            First his rocks. Nothing special about most of those. He likes small ones best, fingering them repeatedly.

            One time Min visited our Kentucky neighbor, showed her his rocks, and explained about them. Brenda listened and realized to Min they held great value.

            When Brenda lost a loved one, Min picked a favorite rock and placed it in her mailbox.

           When she fetched her mail, Brenda knew who’d been there and why. Later she shared, “That was the sweetest thing a child ever did for me…it filled me with happiness and love for Min.” And others in our holler who experienced loss also found rocks in their mailboxes.

            Then this: When visitors were leaving our home, we had to urge Min to come out of his room, be polite, and say good-bye. Once, though, when his nephews and niece were heading home, Min came without prompting. He lifted his niece in a tight embrace.

            Our granddaughter’s face beamed, and she squealed with delight. “Uncle Min hugged me! He never hugged me before!”

            And then Min’s prayers. He doesn’t articulate beautifully, but God honors his simple words, answering more times than we could count. Our son recognizes this and comments, “God must really love me.”

            Mrs. Beethoven, your son continues to be revered worldwide.

            Min will leave his mark too, being remembered by all who received a rock, a hug, or answer to one of his prayers.

            You see, the music of our son’s heart are his masterpieces. The little rocks? His Moonlight Sonata. The first hug? His Fur Elise. Those simple prayers? His Ode to Joy.

            What pride we mothers share as we ponder our sons’ gifts!

                                                            With a symphony playing in my heart,

                                                            one realizing there’s purpose in her discordant note

         And now, please join me in listening (or singing along, if you wish) to a most uplifting hymn—melody selected from Mrs. Beethoven’s son’s 9^th Symphony!

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

~words by Henry van Dyke, 1907~

~music composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, 1824~

ODE TO JOY-JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE at ROYAL ALBERT HALL,LONDON

 

#developmentaldisability #Aspergers #neurofibromatosis #adoption #giftedness #music

#Beethoven #AHomeforMinSoo #memoir #KimMinSooauthor

Photo Credit:

Mrs. Beethoven—blogspot.com, memoir—Trisha White Priebe, Ludwig van Beethoven—areacorari.com

Don't Be Late!

 

        I don’t like being late. In fact, I’m almost always early for appointments. This habit stems from my dad. He was punc-tu-al.

        Mom, on the other hand, most often ran late. No matter how much time she had to prepare, she found more to do before getting out the door. When nearly all set, she’d announce, “I’m almost ready!”

        Dad replied every time, “Ruth, you’re not ready till you’re in the car!” using her first name only. By the umpteenth time, however, he’d add her maiden name. Uh oh!

        But Mom didn’t get the hint.

        So, my sister and I grew up hearing Dad yell, “Ruth Holland, you’re not ready till you’re in the car!” most times when we headed out. And more than once he told Mom, “You’re gonna be late to your own funeral.”

        When I married Brian, he decided to copy my father, and it became a bit of a joke.

        I’d get ready to go here or there, plop on the couch, and announce, “I’m ready.”

        Brian would smile—and to this day replies, “You’re not ready till you’re in the car.”

        I don’t mind occasional late-comers, but I do get irked by chronic-stragglers if I’m the one waiting for them. This annoyance carries over to doctors’ offices. If I wait more than 2 hours for an appointment (for example), let’s just say I get a bit irked, just like Dad. Maybe more than a bit.

        Should I mention that 2 of our children decided to show up late? Yup. Didn’t those babies care they failed to occupy the fully-prepared nursery on time? The nerve! One kept us on pins-n-needles an extra 9 days. The other? Our 4^th! I mean, who expected #4 to keep us parents in limbo 11 extra days? (I’ve forgiven them.)

        In reality, there are times being tardy doesn’t cause global chaos—just inconvenience. After all, no “water under the bridge”—unless someone’s late because there actually was water under the bridge. That could happen.

        I’m not sure why some people tend to be late-comers. Maybe they think they have plenty of time to get one more thing done—like Mom did. They just don’t realize, as one of my special friends shares, “Time has flies!” (I love the way this friend expresses that idiom.* Don’t you?)

        There’s a time, though, when being late will come with eternal consequences. When thinking there’s plenty of time will make the difference between one’s final destination. No one knows when Jesus is returning to take believers-in-Him to Heaven! There are clues, though, in God’s Word indicating we’re approaching—or actually in—End Times.

        Let me back up a few moments though. Way back to Bible times! 

        There’s a stirring account in the Book of Acts, Chapter 26 where the apostle Paul, at that time 
imprisoned for preaching the Good News about Jesus, stands before King Agrippa to be judged. Agrippa permits Paul to speak, and the apostle takes this opportunity to express his joy in being able to address the king. He also shares about his background in Judaism, experience as a pharisee, and deep guilt in persecuting believers.

        Paul must’ve had a captive audience (ironic, since he was the prisoner) because Agrippa allowed Paul to continue. Thus, the apostle shared his personal testimony and what happened on his way to persecute more believers-in-Jesus:

“…O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Having obtained help from God, I stand to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:13-22

        Also present? Festus, the Roman governor. He shouted at Paul, declaring this prisoner-of-many-words mentally off and driving this political official nuts.

        But Paul wasn’t dissuaded by the governor and affirmed he imparted only truth. He even spoke to Festus on behalf of the king before turning the conversation back to Agrippa. (That took guts. That took God!)

“For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Acts 26:25-26

        Next comes King Agrippa’s tragic response:

“You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 26:27

        Paul closes his defense with this challenge:

“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:28

        [King Agrippa, you weren’t ready by your own account. You were late. Lost. Your position couldn’t save you, nor could your wealth or heritage.]

        If you’re a person who hasn’t yet accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you’re gambling against time. Oh, sure, you might have plenty of time and choose to wait, but I challenge you to consider your eternal destiny and relationship with the Lord!

        It’s worth taking care of that now and comes with benefits. You’ll have time on this side of eternity to joy in your new-found life in Christ.

        So, dear one, I implore you. Consider this decision before it’s too late.

Plenty of Time written by Clay McLean (released in 1971)

Plenty Of Time - The Galileans - 1973

~and~

Almost Persuaded

“Almost persuaded” now to believe; “Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say, “Go, Spirit, go Thy way;
Some more convenient day on Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here, angels are lingering near,
Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wanderer, come.

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past! “Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail, “Almost,” but lost!

(Almost Persuaded, by Philip P. Bliss who tragically died with his wife

in a fiery train wreck 5 years after writing this hymn in 1871, public domain)

        Right now, you still have time. If you don’t understand how to join God’s family, here’s a video explaining the steps:

Heaven How To Get There

Presented by Rev. Brian Hampshire

#time #toolate #JesusSaviorLord #apostlePaul #KingAgrippa #Acts26 #howtogettoHeaven

*“Time flies.”

Photo Credit: clock—publicdomainpictures.net, Paul with King Agrippa—goodsalt.com, person praying—vecteezy.com

Biblical Passages from NKJV version. Video used with creator’s permission.

---

“Has Anyone Considered My Child Has a Soul?”

        Fifty years ago, I drove onto the campgrounds of Children’s Bible Fellowship in New York State. My assignment? Serve as a counselor to the disabled. There was a lot at stake other than just doing this task well. You see, I’d already written the mission organization expressing my desire to serve with them full-time.

        Their initial requirement: Apply to counsel at Camp Hope for the summer, and they’d see if I was a “good fit” for openings at Hopetown—their on-grounds resident school where kids and teens lived year-round.

        This ministry grew as a result of a parents-of-disabled-children’s meeting held in New York City years prior. Attendees asked numerous questions and offered suggestions, wishing to improve their disabled children’s lives physically, emotionally, and mentally.

        Then a Jewish father stood and asked, “Has anyone considered my child has a soul?”

        This was the “seed” that planted a vision in the heart of the mission’s founder. And from that grew Camp Hope and later Hopetown.

        I’d desired to work with the disabled for years prior to this summer, grasping opportunities throughout high school and college, to better equip me for whatever God had in store.

        Unbeknownst to me, the director of Hopetown, who also worked in the camping program, planned to assign the most challenging campers to me—a test of sorts. I didn’t see it that way at the time. I just looked forward to the experience and settled in for the summer.

        After orientation, the first session of campers arrived. Assigned to me? Inez—a petite, pretty-as-a-princess child. Yet her face lacked expression, and she constantly ground her teeth. Inez was autistic and required a 1-on-1 counselor for her 2-week stay.

        I didn’t know a lot about autism. I tried my best, but something within me ached. After all, this was a Christian camp, and our goal was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. How could I reach a little girl who seemed so distant?

        But during orientation the mission’s founder had shared with us about that meeting he attended eons ago—when the question was put forth: “Has anyone considered my child has a soul?” He also imparted another truth. A body and/or mind may be disabled, but the soul/spirit cannot be. Then he told us an amazing account—

        A certain non-verbal boy attended Camp Hope some years before. He’d not spoken his whole life.

        When he returned home, his parents talked with him about his time at camp—like always but never expecting answers. Still, they loved him and communicated.

        “Did you have fun at camp?”

        No response.

        “You must’ve enjoyed time with the other campers.”

        Silence.

        “What did you learn at camp?”

        “Jesus loves me this I know,” the boy said, “for the Bible tells me so.”

        Reader, can you imagine the expression on these parents’ faces? The utter surprise? The tears of joy? They couldn’t wait to share this news with the mission’s founder, and he joyed each time he shared this account with incoming summer staff.       

        Since God conveyed His Love to that boy, might my camper experience the same? Can she actually grasp that Jesus loves her? Will I be able to help her understand?

        I showed my camper pictures and told her about Jesus in simple words, but she remained expressionless. I didn’t have a clue if anything broke through to her. So, I prayed.

        A couple days passed with no evidence…

        …until one day when I was pushing her on the swing. She seemed to love the back-and-forth motion of that activity, so we did that a lot.

        As I gave her that swing ride, I wondered if Inez might be from a Spanish-speaking home. (This info would’ve been in her camper profile, but somehow I missed that detail.) After all, a number of campers were from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

        What if I communicate with her in Spanish! I only knew a few words in that language, and I wasn’t even sure I pronounced them correctly. I tried saying a few things to her, but she remained emotionless, grinding her teeth.

        Then an eighteen-year-old memory popped into my head—one from when I was Inez’s age.

        My mother was a patient at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Several times Dad took my sister and I to see Mom, except we couldn’t visit her at all. Only Dad was permitted into her room. So, we girls waited nearby.

        Two precious nurses kept us company during those visits and taught us a hymn and Jesus Loves Me… 

        …in Spanish!

        And we never forgot it.

        Now, here I was, gently pushing Inez on the swing. “Si, Cristo me ama,” I sang, and…

        She smiled! Not just a bit. Nope. I’m talkin’ big toothy-grin!

        I gasped. “Oh, Inez! You have a beautiful smile!”

        And my camper stared blankly.

        Then I sang again, and she smile brightly!

        I was amazed and stopped to thank God for this breakthrough, and Inez’s smile left. I sang again, and her smiled returned!

        In a very real sense, we sang Cristo Me Ama together the rest of her time at camp. And I hoped and prayed Inez’s spirit would continue singing when she went home.

        In reflecting on this 50-year-old memory, I remain astonished by the Savior—this infinite God—Who created the world, Who listens to and answers when we pray, Who bent down and whispered to these 2 dear non-verbal campers!

        The world may overlook some children at times, thinking them hopeless.

        But God tells them, “I love you.” And He wrote a Book to prove it because He wanted them to know.

        Reader, do you know a special needs child who seems distant? May you share God’s Love with that precious one who needs to know…

        …“Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.” 

Jesus Loves Me ~ Cristo Me Ama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsO5ThjGS-0&list=RDJsO5ThjGS-0&start_radio=1

(original English version from hymn/story by Anna Bartlett Warner, 1859, public domain)

 

P.S. ~ At the close of that 1^st summer, I was accepted by CBF as a houseparent and cared for 17 (not all at once) kids/teens over the 3 years I served in that capacity. A “bonus” was meeting my husband at Hopetown. We served with CBF until 1989, at which time God led us to BCM International, Inc. ~ Bible Centered Ministries ~ where we’ve ministered since.

 

#counselor #CampHope #Hopetown #disabled #autism #specialneeds #JesusLovesMe #Spanish #CristoMeAma

Photo Credit:

girl in swing—depositphotos.com, sign—teacherspayteachers.com

Parents’ conversation with non-verbal boy camper is not verbatim.

Finding Hope in the Somewhats

        The cardiologist entered my assigned exam room. Hubby and I would get the lowdown on yet another diagnosis for me—this time, AFib.* Not life-threatening, I’d been told, but a concern primarily due to increased risk of stroke.

        Okay. I started on a prescribed medication to combat stroke. Next step?

        I hoped for ablation. Yup! That held possibility of eliminating this new threat to my already presumed abbreviated life due to lung disease. So, that’s what my choice would be.

        Ablation: a medical procedure where an instrument would be fed from my lower region up into my heart and burn out the tiny area causing an extra systolic beat. Goal: Changing the bah-bah-bum, returning it to a normal bah-bum.

        That would do quite fine, thank you very much.

        But the cardiologist didn’t have those words for me. Instead, he said, “Normally we could…”

        Normally? Uh-oh. Already a warning here, raced this thought through my head.

        “…go in and…” and the doctor went on quite calmly.

        My mind skipped over the rest of his “normally” to the “but.”

        “But because of your lung disease, I wouldn’t take the risk of operating on you. Putting you under.” He x-ed out ablation in the diagram he’d already drawn on a white board to explain AFib.      

        I zeroed in on him. “I hoped you could fix this.”

        “I’m sorry, but your situation makes it more risk than worth.” He stood silent for some moments.

        I processed: No ablation. Stupid lung disease. Rats! “Oh well,” I finally blurted, shrugging my shoulders and glancing at my husband with a grimace.

        “I can prescribe a medication. It’s not a fix, but it’s somewhat of a help,” the doctor said.

        I tilted my head left to right and back again. “I guess somewhat’s better than nothing.”

        “It is.”

        So, we left the doctor’s office with a tidbit of hope in my overly active heart.

        When we were back in the car, I admitted, “I’m sort of disappointed. I really hoped to cross this problem off my list.”

        “It would’ve been nice,” Brian said. “Maybe you’ll feel better after a nice lunch. You pick the place.”

        “Joisey Mike’s!” I said attempting to lighten my mood.

        “Okay, Joisey girl!”

        And we headed on our way.

        “I wanna cry but not,” I said. “I mean, this isn’t a nothing. Right?”

        “Right,” Brian affirmed.

        “Sorta like when we went to the pulmonologist, and he told me I made gains after months of rehab. Some progress. So much hard work to gain just 1% in one score and 2% in another on my PFT** though.” My shoulders dropped.

        “But, Sarah, at least your scores went up, not down,” Brian said, turning toward our next stop.

        “I know. I guess it helped somewhat.”

        “And somewhat’s better than nothing. Right?”

 

        I broke a smile. “Where have I heard that before?”

 

        Somewhat’s better than nothing. Something to cling to—to keep me from drowning.

 

       Was I disappointed? For a while. Maybe 30 minutes. But, I admit, I thoroughly enjoyed that Jersey Mike’s sub!

*****

        Not long ago, I shared in a blog post about a young lady named Jane who went by stage-name Nightbirde. She had cancer that returned a 3^rd time—this time giving her only a 2% chance of survival. I think Jane must’ve struggled with that news when her oncologist broke it to her.

 

        But Jane (a believer in Jesus) wasn’t always weighted down by this news. Instead, at the close of her audition on America’s Got Talent, this beautiful but frail woman said, “I have a 2% chance of survival, but 2% is not 0%. 2% is something, and I wish people knew how amazing it is.”

 

        Can you imagine? I can’t, yet faith in Jesus Christ offers hope—solid ground to stand on.

 

        My diagnosis is so far below the seriousness of Jane’s, yet—for a brief moment—we may’ve share something in common—finding something in what looked more like nothing. 

        And that’s something! Small perhaps but a positive step.

        Reader, have you been in a situation where you find yourself questioning if there’s anything left? Does it look like you’re facing nothing? Are you wanting to cling to something?

        Someone?

        Hope! There’s always hope because that isn’t just a thing—it’s a Him! Jesus Christ provides a solid foundation for our faith, and this gives us hope…

        …even in the somewhats.

The Solid Rock

 

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' Name.

Refrain: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

 

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

 

His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

 

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found:
Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

(from the hymn, The Solid Rock, by Edward Mote, 1834, public domain)

 

#hope #AFib #ablation #JesusChrist #firmfoundation #solidrock

  *atrial fibrillation

**Pulmonary Function Test

Photo Credit: Hope in sky—vecteezy.com