Word of the Week: Shocker

Shocker. It’s never good to see that your cell phone had a late-night call and voicemail. Then you look and see texts and Facebook messages on the phone also. The pulse rate picks up as you wonder, how bad is the news? Early Sunday morning I learned that one of our members, Janice Edwards, was in UVA intensive care facing surgery and recovery from a ruptured aneurysm in her brain.

It was a real shocker. I quickly went through a range of human emotions that settled on sorrow that our friend is so ill, and that three Grace families (David and Janice Edwards, Peter and Marcy Edwards, and Jeff and Betsy Fletcher- Jeff is Janice’s brother) would be going through this.

As of this writing, Janice is still recovering from 2 brain surgeries and is sleeping. There are reasons to be hopeful but there is a lot of waiting to be done.

If you live long enough, you will live through a shocker like that. They are all a little different. Some unfold over a few weeks (“We need to follow up on this abnormal test”) while others are the completely unexpected phone call or knock on the door.

What do you learn from them? A few things I can think of. Every moment is precious. Don’t waste a bit of time with those you love and cherish. Say it now, do it now, bless them right now. Second, God is faithful. For the believer, in our darkest moments we sense his presence even when his timing feels terrible, and the pain is unbearable. In time, we may even start to make sense of some of it. We see him redeem our pain as we comfort others.

Be praying for the Edwards families and the Fletchers. Pray for our member and friend. And love well today, my friend!

In Christ,

Don