My Mum received a beautiful arrangement of flowers from her niece in New York. She really likes these flowers. She said to me, “I could draw these flowers!.” That is a sign she is improving.

But her condition has a limited prognosis. She needs medicine to reduce the fluid in her lungs. Her heart has a leaky valve. It is not able to properly pump the blood through her body and remove the water.

Water pills have the effect of removing the water for her. She can breathe better when she is on this medicine. Breathing better means she can get the oxygen she needs to have the cognitive function to imagine herself drawing those flowers.

The catch is that the medicine “dries” her out. This impacts the function of her kidneys. The kidneys need water to function properly. Too much diuretic and the kidneys stop functioning.

Welcome to our healthcare bind!

I wish I had the faith to believe that God could resolve this bind on this side of heaven, but I don’t.

Honestly, I am finding it difficult to pray right now.

I was reminded of the “Footprints in the Sand” poem.

“One night, a man dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene, He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life, there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him, and He questioned the LORD about it. ‘LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most, you would leave me.’

The LORD replied, ‘my precious, precious child, I Love you, and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.'”

I am that man!

It is good to remember, “in the wilderness (as thou hast seen) the Lord thy God hath carried thee, as a man is wont to carry his little son, all the way that you have come until you came to this place.” Deuteronomy 1:31.

I am also finding comfort in Tayla Rede’s song from Jeremy Riddle’s new album, Returning. Here are the lyrics for “I Always Will.”

Verse 1

I love You God I always will

You’ve never left my side

And I know You never will

I trust You God I always will

You’ve never let me down

And I know You never will

Chorus

Through highs and the lows

I know You’ve seen it all

Through the changing in the waiting

All the moments in between

You’ve come closer

And closer to me

You’ve come closer

And closer to me

Verse 2

I choose You God in everything

In every choice I make

I will hold onto Your ways

I need You God in everything

In every step I face

I will bless Your name
Bridge
Lead me through the valleys you’d like
I know I’ll be fine by your side
Day or night this is my desire
Just to be right here by your side
Show me mountains I’ll only find
When I’m standing close by Your side
I have come to see from these heights
There is only peace by Your side
Write through me the story You’d like
I’ll go anywhere by your side
Through my days it’s this I will find
You have always been by my side