A Perfectly Timed Miracle

In spite of following the doctor’s orders to a T, it seems like my abdominal tear has gotten worse instead of better. After talking to the surgeon on the phone today, I am scheduled for another exam tomorrow.

The glitch is that tomorrow is the first time in all of our cummulative family illness that Casey just can’t take off work to take me (and Kenny) to the doctor. I still can’t pick Kenny up, so there’s no way I could bring him with me. The only solution seemed to be calling one of my stay-at-home mom friends to see if they could watch Kenny for the few hours I would be gone.

I called one after another, and they were so sweet, but totally unable to help out. There was one gal who I purposely didn’t call: she’s seven months pregnant, with two and four year old boys, who has been having some complications. As I exhausted my list, I actually got down on my knees to pray in front of the MOPS roster, looking at women who were mere aquaintences, and praying for wisdom of what to do. While I was praying, my cell phone rang. I looked up in annoyance; I was praying, I needed to concentrate on praying, for goodness sake! I checked to see who was calling, and it was the pregnant friend I just mentioned. I answered, as she had been to the ER the night before, to see how she was doing. After talking for fifteen minutes or so, and after finding out that she was perfectly fine and no longer “high risk,” she asked how I was healing from the surgery.

I faltered a little, then confessed that I wasn’t doing so hot, and was due back at the surgeon’s office tomorrow. Before I could mention my child-care challenge, she said, “Well, why don’t I pick you and Kenny up and take you? I’ll put the boys in the car with a movie on the DVD player and we’ll sit in the parking lot while you see the doctor.” I was silent for a minute. “Are you sure?” I asked, a little shaken by the offer. “Absolutely! I can rest and the little guys will be entertained! I’ll pick you up at 10:30.” That was when I told her that when the phone rang, I was on my knees praying for help. “Ha!” she said, “I’m your help!”

Amen.