God is in the Details

As I prepare for hip surgery this morning I am reminded of another hospital visit when I saw how God was faithful in even the smallest details.

When I was expecting my seventh son I was awakened on the morning of my fortieth birthday to a surprise —  but not the birthday surprise anyone would ever want.

I went into labor seven and a half weeks early and would spend this birthday flat on my back on a gurney in the hallway of the maturity floor of the Ohio State University Medical Center. The floor was overflowing with patients and I was in a holding pattern waiting for a room. After about 3 hours in the hallway I was moved to a spot in the recovery room for mothers who just had a C-section. I remember thinking how unfair it was that I was already very afraid and then was left alone in this recovery room forced to listen to these mothers returning from surgery. I remember asking God, “Why?”

I ended up finally getting a room where I would spend the next week waiting for my baby’s lungs to develop. During that week of waiting I saw God come to me in such gentle and loving ways over and over.

One particular day stands out in my memory. I was feeling particularly sad this day as I was missing my older children and felt like the days were just dragging on and on. As I cried out to God for  His strength and comfort I happened to glance toward the window in my room. It was a very large window with wide vertical blinds. The window looked out on an indoor courtyard filled with plants and a variety of seating areas. The blinds were adjustable but since I was not allowed out of bed I had no way of reaching the cords to adjust them. The blinds were situated just so that I could see a small section of the courtyard. As I lay there I heard a man’s voice from outside being projected over a microphone.

It was through this tiny slice of vision that I witnessed a gift from the Lord. For at that moment, in the only place I could see in the entire courtyard, I watched a pastor serving communion to those who would step forward to receive it. If he had been standing even as much as a foot in any direction I would not have been able to see him but God set the stage that day. He set it for me. He allowed me to participate from afar but my heart was comforted just the same.

I was so blessed by this gift that I wept for joy. God hadn’t forgotten me. I would also find out the next day that my time in the recovery room for C-sections was no accident either. I was told I would be delivering my baby by C-section and God had already prepared me for what I would experience afterward.

God didn’t miss a single detail in my two week stay in the hospital and it’s a good reminder as I await surgery today that I serve a God who has every detail under control. He has already prepared the way before me. I have nothing to fear.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (NLT)