We have a little terrier mix and she is very scared of the thunder and rain. She knows when the rain is coming in advance. One rainy day, I was sitting down and my little dog, Tanya, came up to me and got right under my feet. She was shaking like a leaf, very scared. I reached down and started petting her gently, speaking comforting words to her. As I petted her, I said this to her, and this made me start thinking. “It will be okay, baby, daddy is always here to take care of you.” Then it dawned on me. For the times I was afraid, Jesus would take his hand, and gently talk to me and tell me not to be afraid, because He would always be with me.
I faced death when I was younger, having leukemia, back when there was no cure. Jesus came and touched me, telling me I would be all right, He would always be with me. I was asked to take part in an experimental program. This started with whole body radiation once a day for three days. Then I was given experimental drugs, along with a bone marrow transplant from by brother. I was in reverse isolation, meaning that anyone who entered my room, had wear masks, so I would not get an infection, since all my immunity had been destroyed.
I cried every night in the hospital bed, seeking God’s healing. Psalm 6:6 was a comfort to me.
“O Lord, don’t rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your rage. Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. I am sick at heart. How long, O Lord, until you restore me?
Return, O Lord, and recue me. Save me because of your unfailing love. For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise You from the grave?
I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. My vision is blurred with grief; my eyes are worn out because all my enemies.
Go away, all who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer. May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified. May they suddenly turn back in shame.” (NLT)
I was one of four people at Emory University Hospital with leukemia and the only one who survived and was cured. Many other times, the Lord took care me in the face of adversity and physical illnesses.
(My husband told me his story and I have relayed it here)