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Woman To Woman by Kathy Thomas
Finding Peace in the Storm
Deep-sea fishing was my once-upon-a-time dream of a perfect summer vacation.
The boat gliding across the ocean waves, me sitting in a deck chair, feeling
the salt spray blow against my face. I would easily land a huge trophy fish
and all would be well with the world. What actually happened the few times
that I went was that the water was choppy, I threw up and the only thing I
ever caught was a baby shark which we had to throw back.
I decided I like peaceful waters and I'll let someone else reel the big fish
in. I also like peaceful waters in life. I do not like turbulence. But a
monsoon wave smashed into me last month and threatened to drown me. It started
out with what I thought was a virus. I kept running to the bathroom up to
ten times a day. By the seventh day my husband, Ned, persuaded me to go see
a doctor. By the time the tests came back, we all discovered I had caught "C-Diff," a
bacterial infection. I started antibiotics and thought all would be fine
but I had become so dehydrated that the next evening I passed out on the
bathroom floor and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.
For five days I lay in a hospital room, shaking and running a high fever.
I was in isolation and red welts had broken out all over my body. I was in
so much pain. At times I almost asked God to take me home. I would lay there
crying and shivering and Jesus would walk in, filling the room with His peace.
As much as I suffered, I felt loved. Except for Ned and family, we stopped
visitors from coming in. I spent much of the time alone, but I didn't feel
alone. For years I have been afraid of being hospitalized with no visitors.
Don't ask me why I felt that way, but God removed the fear.
My husband was and is such an incredible support, but he got ill from helping
me so much. When the rug gets totally pulled out, I discovered you either
trust the Lord or you don't. I was totally out of control and it was wonderful
to let Him take over.
I am home now and resting. I have begun to enjoy the little things - watching
the birds feeding in the back yard, watching the cactus grow, reading and
praying. Last night I prayed and wrote in my journal a few thoughts I felt
the Lord was giving me. "Kathy," He said, "a life well-lived
is not devoid of conflict. It's My peace I give you while you are going through
the storm that makes life worthwhile. Often the conflicts in life are with
yourself. When you allow self to step down off the throne and invite Me to
take your place, I can use you as a powerful force in My army."
So I'm putting on His uniform and I stitched my favorite verse on my pocket, Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is there will your heart be also." I treasure you all, but if we all get some furlough time from the Lord and we go on vacation together, please, let's go anywhere - but deep-sea fishing.
I love you,
Kathy
Kathy Thomas is the director of Woman to Woman Ministries of Tucson, dedicated to the encouragement and healing of women, which airs a weekly radio program on KGMS 940 AM every Sat. at 2 pm. and on cable television Wed. at 3 p.m. on channels 72 and 97 and Fri.at 5 p.m. on channels 73 and 98. email Kathy at hooperandhonker@msn.com.
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