Saturday night we spent 7.5 hours in the ER. It was hard watching dear Husband in pain, chilled to the bone. The staff was so busy that it took that long to get antibiotics and some pain killer for what they thought was just a sinus infection. By the time we got home at 1:20 am, we were very hungry and tired. Nothing helped the intense pain, so sleep was short. By Monday at 6:30 am, he was back in the ER, this time at a smaller, less busy hospital. A CT scan showed he also had an abscessed tooth, which better explained his pain level. He immediately got a dose of IV antibiotics (and a prescription that couldn’t be filled because it was the holiday). But God’s mercy was clear- not a long wait, a more complete diagnosis, an immediate dose of antibiotics, and the nasty swelling in his mouth popped, which relieved a lot of pressure.
“I will proclaim the name of the Lord.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.” Deuteronomy 32:3-4
While waiting that first night in the ER, I kept thinking, “This is so minor compared to what our daughter’s family is going through (her father-in-law, I wrote about here peacefully went home to Jesus on Friday night). This is so minor compared to what a close friend whose wife just had a massive stroke is suffering.” But sitting those long hours waiting to be seen in the ER, I was thankful I had taken the time to meditate on Deuteronomy 32:3-4 during the week. I kept repeating, the more tired and hungrier I got, “A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” It was such a comfort to know that God doesn’t make mistakes, even in the bumps in the road. “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.” Spending time in God’s Word always pays off.
Dear Husband went alone to the second ER, because I had committed to photograph a family that morning. I was pulled in two directions- my heart was with dear Husband, but I needed to serve my clients. Then I noticed some other precious verses in Deuteronomy 32.
“The Lord. . . Is he not your Father, your Creator,
who made you and formed you?
He shielded him and cared for him;
he guarded him. . .” Deuteronomy 32:6, 10
I had peace that God made us and he shields, cares for, and guards us- especially dear Husband at the ER alone. I knew God was with him and that he was being shielded, cared for, and guarded by Someone much more capable than I! Then I needed some bolstering as I prepared for the photo shoot. I’m retired, and it had been a year since I’d done a family photo shoot. I was feeling nervous. My dear clients were late. I was worried about where the sunlight would be for their outdoor portraits at this unplanned time. Then I read:
“like an eagle that stirs up its nest
and hovers over its young,
that spreads its wings to catch them
and carries them aloft.
The Lord alone led him”. Deuteronomy 32:11-12
I definitely felt stirred up! But that’s a good thing. I don’t want to be stagnant. I know I need to be stirred regularly. The good news is that our God hovers over us. He’s right there with us, attentive. If we fall, he catches us. If we can’t do it, he carries us. He shows us the way to go.
Stirs
Hovers
Catches
Carries
Leads
Later, I watched eagle nest cam footage of different eagle parents with their young. I was struck by the level of care the parents give. They are so invested, attentive, and present. When the young are finally ready to fledge, the parents stir up the nest by removing the soft, comfortable materials and the protective sides of the nest, leaving the bare twigs and a flat platform perfect for launching. Then they hover, both literally and figuratively. The parents no longer sit in the nest warming their young because the young now have feathers of their own that protect them from the cold and wind. Instead, the parents sit on branches of the nest tree, keeping an eye on the eaglets as they practice flapping their wings on the nest platform. I heard vocalizations from the parents as if they were encouraging their youngsters to be brave and try to fly. When each eaglet finally gathers the courage to attempt flight, a parent will accompany them, demonstrating flying skills in real time. I didn’t find a video of a parent eagle catching a fledgling and carrying them, but I did see a fledgling leave the nest in its parents’ absence and end up in the river below. (Spoiler: eventually a happy ending!) Each of the nest cams showed eagle parents leading by example. They would frequently do fly-bys around the tree to encourage their youngsters to venture out into the sky. The fledglings watched their parents soar, coast on the air currents, and land every day. Sure reminded me of the way God cares for us- present and attentive. Making things uncomfortable where we are so we’ll step out in faith to try new things. Yet every minute he is there with us, ready to help when we need it. In Jesus, we have the ultimate example to follow.
Stirs
Hovers
Catches
Carries
Leads
What more could we ask for?
Well, God makes sure we’re fed, too! Since he’s our Father who formed us, he knows our needs, and he provides.
“He fed him with the fruit of the fields.
He nourished him with honey from the rock.” Deuteronomy 32:13
From Deuteronomy 32 we see that God is:
Our Rock
Perfect
Just
Faithful
Does no wrong
Upright
Father
Creator
Shield
Guard
Provider
I’m so grateful!
PS. Dear Husband is in less pain and has an appointment for a root canal. Truly enjoyed my photo shoot with a family we instantly fell in love with. And the images are heartwarming. God is faithful!