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Let Everything that has Breath Praise the Lord

She lays in a hospital bed, not moving her hand, her leg or even her mouth without great difficulty. Her hair has been shaved around the spot where the surgeon entered to remove the dangerous blot clot and to stop the bleeding that threatened her life. Her home is being remodeled to accommodate her new needs though she spends hours each day in physical therapy re-training her brain to accomplish ordinary, everyday tasks that I take for granted.

Just a few weeks ago, she was busy teaching the children at AWANA about God's love for the world, teaching the women about God's Word, planning a Christmas tea and dinner and now, her life has been turned upside down.

How would I respond if I were to face such a challenge? If my husband were to be in this place? Would I start each day with praise, would I find reasons for thanksgiving in everything from oatmeal, silly speech or wiggling toes? Would I? (I'm rather inclined to think that I might be resentful, frustrated and depressed by it all...I mean, I get that way when I burn cookies, or the kids argue with each other...what makes me think I could have a good attitude if things got REALLY tough?)

Tragedy seems to surround us right now - a neighbor suddenly stripped from his family of 5 by the bitter cold of broken ice upon the lake...

An aunt recovering from quadruple bi-pass surgery...

Our friends spending the nights in the hospital with their newborn, trying to figure out how she will gain weight before her imminent heart surgery.

They praise God for helpful friendly nurses, for slightly comfortable chairs to sleep on, for tubes in a baby's stomach...

Would I praise God in the midst of those circumstances? If my child were struggling with each breath, would I have the strength to praise God? I hope I would; I hope I would have the faith to trust God in the midst of trials that don't make sense because God loves us no matter what challenges we face.
I hope I would remember to praise God in the mildly frustrating days, in the cheerful days, in the tragic days, in the fearful days, in the painful days, in the happy days, and in all my days.

May my life begin and end with praise.

Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

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Comments

Julie said…
Great post, Heather... Truly makes me think. My father heads into a serious surgery this coming Tuesday.... He has an incurable lung disease. They are hoping the surgery will help him.

In the uncertainties I know that God is good in ALL things....but sometimes it is hard to be thankful!

Thanks for sharing this..
Julie
December 14, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Anonymous said…
Wow...what a great message to meditate on. Great scripture reference too!
Crystal
December 14, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Anonymous said…
Thank you so much for your blog, which I’ve really come to appreciate. It's so important that we continue as a light to the world, especially as Christmas approaches and so many people are more open to hearing about the things of God. Thanks again, Karyn
www.christiancupid.com/blog
December 14, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Kathy Schwanke said…
Heather, I said a prayer for your list. Truly only by grace.

I will never forget the times when the Lord has carried me, and I felt closer to Him then. Ethan's surgery, my brother's death. But I do seem to have more of a challenge with the little daily things. And I get really frustrated @ my lack of patience or ability to see beyond the "now".

Praising the Lord with you.
December 14, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Susan said…
Hey Heather,

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I dropped by.

I'm just so sorry to read about all that is going on.

I will pray for each family now.

I pray my attitude would be good in the midst of so much.

Thanks for sharing.

Hope all is well with you and your family.

Blessings♥
December 20, 2008 at 12:43 PM
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