Hard times.
I love this quote above. I’m so grateful that (1) my suffering is not in vain and also that (2) the Lord is right there with me and for me.
I just wanted to thank you all for the cards, continued prayers, love, and encouragement these past several days. It has definitely kept me going.
On top of the 2 surgeries I had on January 15th and 30th, I’ve been experiencing terrible, cramping abdominal pain and distention, and after some tests, I found out this evening that I have a bad infection in my intestines. This is much more serious/risky than a healthy person catching it because I have a central line that goes in my bloodstream and we don’t want any of the bacteria to travel to my line.
This whole ordeal has been very hard, and I’ve been in pain pretty much everywhere… My foot from the vascular malformation surgery, my neck and chest from the central line removal and replacement surgery (I found out that my surgeon inserted the new Hickman central line all the way into the right atrium of my heart! I never knew it went that far in!
), my stomach from the intestinal infection, and my head, arms, and legs from the chronic pain and small fiber neuropathy I have.
Every day, I’ve really had to trust in the Lord and lean on Him for strength. I’m so thankful that Jesus is “a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress” (Psalm 59:16). He knows and understands what I’m going through.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).
