Our First Broken Bone - Wonderfully Made!

Around 9:15 p.m. last night, our 14 year old son, Jacob, was playing basketball and giving 100%, but trailing by over 40 points.  There were just a few minutes left in the game, so it wasn't a close game, but our team continued to play hard.  The opposing team shot and Jacob tried to steal the ball or interrupt the play going full speed.

(Jacob giving me a silly face so I could send a pic to his siblings at home.)

A mat covering a brick wall a few feet behind the goal, didn't do much to protect Jacob's arm as he went full speed into the mat - putting his arm out to help him slow down.  The speed and force broke Jacob's arm immediately.  He dropped to the ground.  My husband saw him drop, but thought it was his knees (Osgood Schlatter).  He said to me, "Jacob just got hurt!".  When we looked down the court we could see Jacob lying on the ground, holding up his right arm.  But the arm wasn't shaped like a regular arm.  The bottom of it was an "S" shape.  My husband and I jumped up, raced down the bleachers and across the court to Jacob.  The game was stopped and actually just called.  Everyone knew immediately that Jacob's break was pretty bad.  Arms aren't supposed to be "S" shaped!

The first thing Jacob said to me when I went to him was,  "Mom, don't look."  I said, "I already did," trying to stay calm, pray, and keep Jacob from worrying.  He was fine the whole time.  Our youngest boy (Biscuit) was with us.  He was crying.  He didn't like seeing his brother in pain or on the ground like that.  The first thing he said to Jacob was, "How are we going to play football?"  Sympathy came later.  The important thing at the time (to Biscuit) was the fact that Jacob's ball playing was over for a while.

The opposing team called nurses in their small town and the school officials called the ambulance.  The nurses did their best to immobilize Jacob's arm.  Jacob was transported to the nearest hospital where he was evaluated.   After x-rays, it was determined that Jacob needed more than just a cast, but would need surgery.  We wanted Jacob taken on to the hospital where my husband's orthopedic doctor was and where their pediatrician is located.  However, after talking with the doctor there, he felt like Jacob should be taken to a pediatric hospital in Oklahoma City.  That hospital was full with trauma patients (so sad) so he was taken to a different hospital in the City. My husband rode with him in the ambulance while I took Biscuit home to stay with his older siblings.  By then it was 12:30 a.m.

The ambulance arrived at the hospital about 3:15 a.m. and I got there at 3:45 a.m.  New x-rays were taken to compare with earlier ones.  I could tell when I walked in a saw Jacob's arm that it wasn't a bad "S" shape.  In fact, it didn't look very bad at all.  The x-ray showed the same thing - that the bones had naturally moved back into their natural position.  Still broken, but now no surgery was needed!  Praise God!  Isn't it amazing how He created our bodies so wonderfully?!?

Jacob's arm was splinted and around 5:00 a.m., we headed towards home....stopped to fill pain medicine prescriptions and to eat.  None of us had slept in almost 24 hours at that time.  Jacob would need to get a cast on within a week and sees the orthopedic doctor tomorrow.

It was amazing to watch Jacob.  He was never scared....never worried....never upset the whole time.  It was the first broken bone in our 18 years with our children. (My husband had a few - his first broken bones - several years ago.)  We've been very fortunate.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,  I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

Jacob wanted to go to school for a little while when he got home.  He wanted to take the test that he needed to, but also wanted to show his teammates and other kids, who had been at the game, that he was okay.  They were so glad to see him and hear about his interesting night.  

As Biscuit and I left the hospital last night, I told him I needed to cry for a few minutes.  He said okay.  Before that I had stayed totally calm, even though the site of the arm made my stomach turn.  I just didn't like leaving Jacob and knowing I wouldn't see him for several hours....and not sure if he would go right into surgery or what.  I also was sad that it was Thanksgiving week - a huge, tradition-filled week for our family.  I didn't want Jacob to have to miss any of it.  And now he won't.  Prayers were answered through those few moments of tears.

I didn't take a picture of Jacob right after he got hurt...with his "S" shaped arm and a swarm of people all around.  I thought that might make me look like a weird/strange/sad mom!  But now I really wish I had!  I think he'll wish I had too, someday.  So....if you EVER see something weird and think, "Should I take a picture?"  Do it!  You'll probably regret it if you don't!

We are so very thankful for all of the friends and fans of our team and the other team...plus the school officials, coaches, nurses, EMT's, and doctors that helped care for Jacob.  But God is the ultimate healer, and I believe that He worked in Jacob's life last night....and still is...to heal his arm.  And for that I am extremely thankful.  Prayers aren't always answered immediately.  Last night they were.  Thank you, God!

The Hem of His Garment

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. ⁴³ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

⁴⁵ “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

⁴⁷ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Luke 8:42-48

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible!  I love the faith this woman had, don't you?  

The precious woman had been ill for twelve years.  Twelve years she had bled.  That sounds miserable, doesn't it?  She tried to get help.  No one could help her during that time.  But this woman knew that Jesus could help her.

Had she heard of his healing people and his miracles? 

Had she been waiting for him to come to her region?  

She knew she had to see him.  She knew she had to touch him - even if just she could barely get to him. Even if it was just the edge of his cloak.

Jesus knew immediately that power had gone out from him.  The woman was instantly healed.  After twelve long, long years.  What a change in her life!  What a burden had been lifted!

When Jesus asked who touched him, the woman could have been afraid and denied that she had been the one.  But she didn't.  She worshipped him.  She fell at his feet. She told him why she had touched him and how she was immediately healed.  Jesus commended the woman.  He was pleased by her faith.  He sent her away...in peace.  

What a celebration must have taken place in that woman's house that day!

Like this woman, we have sicknesses and illnesses.  Maybe our problem is worse....maybe it's less.  But, what are you and I doing about our problems.  Are we reaching out to Jesus?  Are you and I asking God to heal us?  Or are we trying to figure it all out on our own?  Are you and I leaving it to the earthly physicians or even to our own feelings on how we can be healed?

Jesus may be waiting for you and I to reach out for his power.  Our Heavenly Father is ready to reward our faith.  Perhaps He is waiting for you to ask Him to heal you.  Perhaps He is waiting for me to ask.  Or maybe He is telling you and I to wait.....that it's not our time to be healed.  Either way, we must reach out and touch Him.  We can feel His power in us.  He's expecting you and me.

Let's reach out in faith!  

Why Kick 'Em When They're Down?

Note: The "Favorite Candy Bar" poll ends Tuesday. Have you voted yet? If not, it's on the "Shine Like Stars" home page. Twenty-eight of you have voted so far and Snickers is waaaaay ahead!


Tonight after worship my husband, Joe, and our son, Jacob, went out to the field to give some of the nanny goats some shots. Unfortunately, goats get "wormy" fairly easily and a few of the nannies have died in the last week. One particular nanny was looking really sickly, so they treated her first. As soon as she got the shot, she laid down. Joe said it was the strangest thing. The other nannies went up to her and started butting her. I thought maybe they were trying to nudge her to get her up, but he said they weren't. He said that they saw her as weak and were butting her to get rid of her! Because she was sick and weak, they didn't want her in the field with them. Isn't that sad? Unfortunately, she died a little while later.

Joe mentioned how there's a good lesson in this story of the sick nanny. (Note: He always find an application story from his goat herd. ha!ha!) Isn't it true that sometimes we, as humans, "kick 'em when they're down" just like the other goats were doing? That's exactly what many national tabloid newspapers make their money doing, isn't it? They make their money on the tragedies and the problems and struggles of others. And, how sad that we would care to spend our money on reading or our time on watching the lives of those hurting being played out in the public eye. Even if you and I don't ever purchase those newspapers, they are lined up at the check out stands at the grocery stores, making the headlines very hard to completely avoid.

Mark 2:1-12 tells the story of four friends taking a paralyzed man to see Jesus. There was no room to carry him into the house because of the large crowd listening to Jesus. So, the four men took the paralyzed man up on the roof and let his mat down through a hole they made...right down to Jesus! Some of the teachers of the law didn't like this at all! Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and questioned them about it. Jesus healed the man and forgave him of his sins because of his faith. The four friends helped the man when he was in need, but all the teachers of the law could do was try to find a problem with Jesus. They were "kicking him when he was down". They had no compassion for the paralyzed man at all. They didn't believe Jesus had the power to forgive sins, either.

As Christians, we shouldn't care about "kickin' 'em when they're down". Rather, we should care enough about people to help them get up. We should care enough for people to take care of their needs, just like Jesus did. We should care enough to tell others about Jesus, Our Savior, who wants to be their Savior, too.