Continued from Good Friday – Grateful for Jesus who knew dread
It had been the weirdest thing preparing for something dreadful that might not happen. But we didn’t want to have regrets so Mom had made our favorite family meal, we had reminisced together, we had cried and prayed together, and Dad had had a private talks with each of us. It was heart-wrenching for me.
The next morning, Dad had his surgery (two in fact), and it was the most agonizing 13 hour wait to see him.
Miraculously, the doctors did not find a malignant, growing tumor in his spine as they had suspected, but instead a benign tumor behind an extremely rare but non-life-threatening spinal fistula. Such relief! We all gave each other awed looks and prayed prayers of thanksgiving in the waiting room. I went from utter dread to HOPEFUL JOY.
When I think back on that day, I realize it was a foretaste of what Easter proclaims.
While we are so grateful we still get to enjoy Dad here on earth, he lives with chronic pain now, and his life just looks a little different than any of us anticipated. I pray for God to take that cup from him and to give him strength to endure his present suffering until that happens, which may or may not be on this side of heaven. While we wait for his full healing, the Easter message brings us such HOPEFUL JOY though – that Jesus rose and conquered death! And one day, Dad will have no more pain! There will be no more suffering of any kind!
I’m reminded again to embrace both Christ’s suffering and his victory this Easter.
I love what John Piper says about it:
Leave a Reply