The Arms Of God
"I'm a surgeon in the Gold Coast,
Australia," said the voice at the other end of the phone. "Your son is just
being wheeled into surgery for a major abdominal operation following a surfing
accident. I think it best that you and your wife come immediately."
Such words spoken in the middle of the night would be terrifying to any parent.
It was 5:40 a.m., Good Friday. Our son, Josh, had been surfing with three
friends in Australia for the preceding two months. Earlier that day, toward the
end of a ride, the pointed end of the board had stuck into the sand and the
blunt end dug into his stomach region, with all the force of the wave behind
him. In great agony, he'd managed to crawl back on his board and swim to the
lifeguards for help.
The hospital had diagnosed severe abdominal injury, along with the possibility
of a broken back. With the likelihood of a ruptured intestine and the resulting
leak of toxins into the body, surgery wasn't an option.
What can parents do upon receiving such news on the other side of the world, but
to get on their knees? I thought of God's love and never-failing presence,
especially comforting when feeling helpless.
Paul's encouragement to the people of the church at Rome came to mind:
Romans 8:38-39 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels
nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from
the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
When Josh learned of his parents' pending arrival, he was amazed at our
dedication to him, that we would fly halfway around the world to be at his
bedside.
On that Easter day, as I flew over the Pacific on the way to my son, I thought
of our heavenly Father and the great lengths that He would go to, to be with us,
holding back nothing, not even His only Son. My "sacrifice" was so small
compared to His.
Just as I didn't question my trip to Australia to bring my son home, so too,
does the Father not question what it takes to bring each of us home, into an
everlasting relationship with Him.
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you," is God's great promise to
us. (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)
Prayer: Loving God, You reach out to us with open arms, with a love that we so
often fail to see. Help us to remember that You are always there for us, and
just a prayer away. Amen.
Rick Potter rpotte@hotmail.com
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca
P.S. Josh returned home with us in a wheelchair after a very successful operation. The healing power of an 18 year old body combined with much prayer and within a month, Josh was traveling across Canada with a wakeboard demonstration team!!
Ironically, just before Easter this year, we received another call concerning Josh. He had just broken his collarbone in a snowboarding accident! He is again recovering extremely well and returns to us on Easter day.
God is indeed good.