Thoughts from the hospital - Part 1

My brother in law Mark was diagnosed with liver failure about a year and a half ago and has been on the liver transplant list since then. Tuesday, out of the blue, a liver that was a match for him became available. He had 20 minutes to make the decision whether or not to accept it and then, once he did accept it, 3 1/2 hours to get to the hospital. As the RN in the family, I have been blessed to be a support for Mark and Laurie in the midst of the medical emergencies they have dealt with over the last few years. So, as they packed and headed out, so did I. We have slept a little and prayed alot, and now it is Friday; Mark has had a new liver for 2 days and he is doing fantastic! I have spent the time hanging out with Laurie and the kids, visiting Mark, translating 'medicalese' into English, interpreting lab results and Dr's comments, and blogging on Mark's Carepages. Just basically being there.

Yesterday, my nephew's wife Jenn said to me "So, how are you doing, Lydia?"
"Oh, I think I'm doing OK" I said. "A little tired, but otherwise doing OK."
She looked at me for a second and then said "You're very 'behind the scenes' but you really make a difference. We don't really notice that you're there, but, if you weren't there, we really would notice.......kinda like the Holy Spirit........He's there, but you don't really notice that He's there, being a Comforter and all......but we sure would miss Him if He weren't there."

I chuckled a bit at that one.......I'm not sure I've ever been compared to the Holy Spirit before!
And I thanked Jenn for the wonderful compliment.......because really, I can't think of anyone else I would want to be like in this situation.

Our conversation brought to mind the verses that were on my heart the day of Mark's surgery: "God has promised 'I will never leave you or abandon you.' So, we can boldly say 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear....'" (Hebrews 13) Here is just one of the ways I fall way short of the being like the Holy Spirit. Certainly I strive to always be available for Mark and Laurie but I cannot be there for them 24/7; I can help allay some of their fears, but not all of them. Thank God for His promise to never leave, to always be there; it is because of that promise that we can live fear-free lives, even in the middle of such major crises as a liver transplant. I am so thankful for the priviledge of being a small reflection of God's love and faithfulness to Mark and Laurie and their family, and I pray that it will enable them to trust and love Him more.