Post Number Fifteen

Help Is On The Way

Before I write anything else I must write that the wedding of our daughter, Mary, to Andrew Highland on October 11 was a glorious and joy filled time.  We were able to set the issue of Terry's illness to the side and focus on the gathered and extended family.  Mary and Andrew designed a wedding ceremony that was beautiful, unique and appropriate to their relationship.  It was a true celebration of love and will long be remembered.  It was a blessing in all respects.

We returned home on October 13 and on October 15 Terry entered the hospital for surgery to remove her cancer.  Things were more complicated than anticipated.  An expected two hour surgery took five hours.  What we had hoped could be accomplished laparoscopically could not be done and Terry underwent full open surgery - first a hysterectomy then the removal of the cancer and a colonostomy.  Needless to say, her recovery was made much more difficult and will take longer than we had hoped.  Yesterday I brought her home.  She still has a long road ahead, but being home is a blessing.

I must tell you that all of this combined with trying to be a pastor to my church and keeping up with caring for Terry's aging and infirm parents has really taken its toll on me.  There have been times when I have felt like one of those jugglers that used to perform on the old Ed Sullivan Show - those guys that used to keep eight plates spinning on sticks.  I have been frantic just trying to keep all of the things going without it all crashing down and creating a huge mess.

This past week, on one of Terry's most difficult days, I entered the hospital elevator feeling like I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. "I need help." I whispered as I pressed the button to the third floor and starred blankly at the control panel in front of me.  For the first time I noticed an instruction on the control panel that had escaped my attention.  There was a little red light and a sign that read, "When flashing, help is on the way."  

How great. A hospital equipping its elevators to detect when people needed help.  This was certainly me at the present time.  I was a little disappointed that the light was not flashing, but it was early in the morning and perhaps the elevator was still waking up.  I arrived in Terry's room and announced to her that help was coming.  I thought that by noon I would find the elevator ready to assist me.  But at noon as I went to the cafeteria for some lunch the light was still not flashing.  I blamed my tendency for impatience and told myself that many people in the world need help right now and that certainly by the evening the light would be flashing.  All last week I entered that elevator every day hoping that the light would be flashing.  Every day it remained unresponsive to our needs.  Yesterday I brought Terry home.  I looked to the elevator.  From whence cometh my help?  My help cometh from the Lord.