Your Grace Is Enough

2 Corinthians 12:9
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

I realize it's been awhile since we've posted news on the blog, but file this under the "no news is good news" category. It's been a little over a month since the initial brain bleed and there are surprisingly few lingering reminders that it actually happened.

Dad is off all medications except the mighty Tylenol. He reports that he's been headache-free for 5 days--quite a feat. And he can't even feel the spots in his scalp where the holes were drilled. Wow.

For someone who likes action, Dad has been mostly content to take long, (brisk, he adds) walks each day coupled with a ride on the stationery bike at the now infamous YMCA. He is still trying to regain some weight and reports that someone rolled down their window as they passed him while on a stroll and shouted, "Chris, I couldn't tell if that was you walking or if you were riding a chicken." No lifting weights yet, but he is working through some of the flexibility and strengthening exercises prescribed by his physical therapist.

Of course, he's anxious to get back to work and has been spending several hours each day working from home. Apparently, he also made a cameo appearance at a meeting on Friday, but I guess that was supposed to be on the down low...

On the horizon for Dad is heading back to the office, possibly part time at first, but knowing him, that will not last long. I'm sure the employees at Jason's Deli have been wondering where their best customer has been. That will be some story.

So Lilly told me the other night that she was done praying for Papa because he is all better. (She is definitely not a 3 year-old who sugar-coats things). And in some ways, she is right. Of course, Dad covets prayer as he continues to gain strength, but mostly, he asks that we remember to thank God for his grace and mercy. It's so easy to pray in our time of need, but this whole adventure reminds us that it's our privilege to let people know that God's intervention in Dad's situation deserves highest praise. There is no other explanation for Dad's miraculous recovery.(Even ask these neurosurgeons who are themselves in awe as they remind us we understand less than 5% of the brain's capabilities...which begs the question, "How do they know what percentage they know?"...but oh well...)

Each Sunday at our church, a discussion question is raised and we break into small groups to discuss. I had just taken a gulp of hot coffee when the question, "Have you ever directly witnessed a miracle?" flashed on the screen. Like a scene from a sitcom, I literally spit my coffee right back into the styrofoam cup with a snort. "Well, yes, I have," I thought, "as of this March I most certainly have." Then my hand shot up to share, "I can't pass up this opportunity to give all the glory to God," I began. And then just maybe there were some tears of joy.

There are many times in life when pieces seem to fall together one by one and it can only be explained as God's will. But other times, like in the trauma ICU, there are such dramatically inexplicable events that point swiftly and decisively to the hand of God that our only response can be to stand back and humbly praise Him.

Thanks in advance for your prayers of praise. The image of hundreds of blog readers, family, and friends pausing to give glory to our Father for this specific miracle is powerful. What a tiny glimpse of heaven we've been given here on earth.