I'm here. I' m good. I'm trying my best not to be defeated by the table and chairs from hell. Yes, they are still tormenting me. My fifty dollar craiglist table and chairs has become so much more- and not in a good way. Yet.
I'll have more to report, soon. I just realized I had not posted since I had pleurisy, so I wanted to at least check in and say HI! I'm is better. Much better. I still have a slight twinge occasionally, but nothing like the stabbing pain I was experiencing. It lasted about two weeks. Not fun, but it surely makes me appreciate being pain free that much more. I fully attribute my healing to the power of prayer and faith that prayer works.
I'm not proud to say my faith at time waffles. I always believe in God, I just don't always have confidence that God is in control, or that he has a plan for me. Oh, I know it in my heart, but sometime this human brain does what human brains do and thinks it knows best.
Well, how wrong is that?
I could give you so many examples of times I felt so lost and out of control only to look back later and see exactly how God was working in my life or the life of someone I love.
This time, I had been debilitated by pleurisy for more than a week. Yes, debilitated. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the lining of the lung. When I would inhale, it felt like a cheese grater on my lung. Every breath in caused a stabbing pain and if I got the slightest bit winded it was amplified. When you are several days into an illness that changes your way of life, you begin to feel like you will never return to normal. After more than a week I was feeling very low. Helpless and hopeless if you will. Hot baths did wonders to relieve the pain so I was taking at least two a day. During one of those baths, all was quiet and I was praying. A thought came into my mind, I can't explain why, but it was there and wouldn't leave. The thought was you need to ask Mrs. Muriel to pray for you. I've known Mrs. Muriel all my life, she lives not far from me and attends the same church. She's in her late 70s or maybe early 80s and is the kindest most lovely lady I've ever known. You need to ask Mrs. Muriel to pray for you! It would not stop. For days, a whisper in the back of my mind, it was there. Did I call her up? Drive to her house? Nope, I ignored it. Or tried to. Then Sunday morning rolled around. I didn't feel like going to church and almost stayed home. Mrs. Muriel was there and so was the whisper. Still trying to ignore it I got in my car after church to leave. Then I got right back out and proceeded, I'm sure, to freak Mrs. Muriel out a little. Because I get all emotional really easy and as I approached her and tried to explain why I was approaching her I was babbling and crying. She may have been a little freaked out, but she never let it show. She put her arm around me and said lets go back inside. She put her arms around me and prayed. She prayed and I prayed and I felt a sense of peace. I'm not saying that Mrs. Muriel has some magical healing powers and her prayers reached the ears of God when mine couldn't. But I truly believe it was a test of my faith. It was Gods way of telling me calm down, have faith, and stop trying to do this alone. Let others share your burden.
I left with a renewed faith that God is in control. My mood lifted and my mind was in a better place. A place that allowed my body to heal.
So glad to hear that healing is happening..I hope you continue to gain strength... and hope you can get the better of those chairs and table, although I thought they looked lovely!
Posted by: Willow | August 04, 2010 at 10:18 AM
She's 70! I'm sure she has seen way worse than that!
I'm glad you are feeling better.
Posted by: lisa | August 04, 2010 at 10:54 AM
I love that you shared your story. We all struggle with faith at some time or another. I think the key to living out faith is being obedient - even when we don't understand. Maybe especially when we don't understand. I think what you shared will help many people. I'm glad you are feeling better.
Posted by: Robinznest | August 04, 2010 at 11:31 AM
I'm so glad to hear that you're feeling better.
Posted by: UK lass in US | August 04, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Glad you are better....thank you for sharing about Mrs. Muriel, I'm sure she was as blessed as you were! I have a friend like her, just feels better knowing she is lifting you up before the throne!
Posted by: Ann | August 04, 2010 at 01:28 PM
I am glad you trusted the whisper, Some people are powerful prayers!
I hope to hear more from you soon!
Posted by: Carol | August 04, 2010 at 03:08 PM
Glad you listened and requested the prayer from Mrs. Muriel! Glad you are felling better! Never had pleurisy but remember my grandmother and a neighbor/friend having it years ago and the agony they went through with it.
Posted by: Elaine | August 04, 2010 at 08:22 PM
I'm so glad you're better. I was beginning to worry since you hadn't posted for a while. I understand what you mean about our faith wavering at times while knowing that He is in fact in control and watching over us. I think that is normal human behavior. I'm so happy you listened to that little voice and asked Mrs. Muriel to pray for you. Hope you continue to feel well.
Posted by: Faith | August 04, 2010 at 09:37 PM
So glad you are feeling better. There is scientific evidence that supports the fact that prayer does facilitate physical healing, and the good news is that it is not dependent on belonging to a certain religion. I guess that's God's way of supporting religious freedom :-)
Posted by: Mitzi | August 04, 2010 at 11:00 PM
Hugs to you sweet friend. I loved the story about your faith. God IS in control and shame on us for often times forgetting. You are a joy to follow. Thank you for sharing your God given talents.
Posted by: Kelli | August 05, 2010 at 12:36 AM
This is my first time here...I found you through your floor mat tutorial (which I love and hope I can accomplish without screwing up)...
I love how the Holy Spirit speaks, so glad you can hear His voice.
I loved this post...and I love how you got emotional and shared even that. ;-)
Kimmie
mama to 8
one homemade and 7 adopted
Posted by: Kimmie | August 05, 2010 at 07:39 AM
Thank you for allowing God to use you to remind me that He is faithful. I know your post was about your reminder, but it spoke volumes to me - right here, right now. Glad you're feeling better :)
Posted by: Tobie | August 05, 2010 at 09:47 AM
So glad you are recovering! I have had many instances in my life when people have prayed for me because I was literally too weak or too dispirited to pray for myself. That's why he told us to love one another....
Posted by: Wylie | August 05, 2010 at 02:54 PM
God Bless all the Mrs. Muriels in the world, and God Bless you.
Posted by: Bridgette | August 05, 2010 at 11:23 PM
So glad to see you back! Glad the plurisy is gone for the most part. What an awesome story about Mrs. Muriel. I remember a friend telling me once that God does not expect us to be Lone Ranger christians, that is why we are in the body of Christ. The scripture tells us to bear one another's burdens. Sometimes God may be just looking for our obedience. He has His purposes that often we cannot understand. Thanks for sharing. Jackie
Posted by: jackie | August 06, 2010 at 09:18 AM
bless your heart Autum.
God is always with us and he is control...and you are so right, sometimes we forget that. We forget that we don't have to carry our burden alone, we can have others pray along with us.
Glad to hear you are feeling better and you listened to God's whisper.
Blessings to you,
Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl | August 07, 2010 at 09:09 PM
Thanks for sharing this - it's very encouraging.
Posted by: rohanknitter | August 08, 2010 at 08:40 PM