Last week I had surgery on my ankle in Lubbock.  An antibiotic was prescribed as a precautionary measure to avoid infection.  Within 30 minutes after taking the first pill I began to sneeze.  I must have sneezed 20 times.  I noticed my hands had turned red and that my face had too.  My fingers began to tingle and it spread to my toes.  My ears pounded and I thought they would burst.  I felt helpless and I realized something was terribly wrong.  The deluge of rain pouring down made visibility zero as my husband drove frantically to the hospital.

            Once at ER I couldn’t walk.  A severe allergic to the antibiotic had paralyzed me.

The wonderful ER staff at Roosevelt General began to work on me.  IV’s, needles and shots brought me back to normalcy and I am forever grateful.  I felt in those 4 hours of their tender care that angels surrounded me.

            The point to make with this story is one I want to emphasize.  In the midst of everything going wrong in my body, something else took priority.  In the core of my inner being there was peace and that peace prevailed.  It took precedence over my physical condition.

Now looking back, I remember the scripture, “And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”  (Philippians 4:7 NCV).  It is a “peace that surpasses all understanding.”  I call it a “secret place.”  It’s one that tells me I am never alone.  In the storms of life, there is a refuge, a hiding place and whatever the circumstances, God is there.  There is a God in heaven that never abandons his child.  In the darkest hour, he is there on the front line, hospital room, rest home, wherever you are in any crisis he will not fail.  In the midst of the storm he is a refuge, a hiding place whatever the circumstance.

Life is very fragile and there are no guarantees.  The apostle Paul tells us that even nature groans awaiting the return of Jesus.  (Romans 8:22)  In verse 23 he states, “And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering.”

I love life despite the “ups and downs.”  I may not understand them all, but if I did, would I need faith?  “We are saved by trusting.  And trusting means looking forward to getting something we don’t have yet”  (Romans 8:24 TLB).

Whenever my grandmother battled a trial, she sang a song to Jesus about holding her hand.  I sang that same song to Jesus last week on the operating table.  When it is all said and done, Jesus is our only hope.  I love the way the Amplified Bible says it, “rely on, adhere to and cling to the Lord.”  You will find the Apostle Paul’s secret to happiness in Colossians 3:12-13, “God has chosen you and made you his holy people.  He loves you.  So always do these things:  Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient.  Get along with each other, and forgive each other.  If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you.”  (NCV)

Please never take life for granted.  It is too short at best to be anxious, upset, unforgiving or miserable.  Since each of us have a bank of TIME, take time to hold those you love.  Realize you must invest your time to get the utmost in happiness because the clock is running.  Treasure every moment that you have because time waits for no one.    Be thankful for your time to live and leave a legacy of loving memories.

 Always remember, “With God you are never alone!”