Thursday, May 1, 2008 6:20 a.m.
A few days (or nights?) ago, I was alone in the room with Katherine. Those are the times when I really 'let it rip' prayer-wise. Sometimes I hold her right hand in mine and gently place my left hand on her forehead. (Remind me to tell you about the first time I did that...it is another, longer story. Pray that I'll remember it all.) This time, as I was praying about the renewal and restoration of every cell and molecule of her brain, I got a visual effect. I saw a strange-looking yellowish bud begin to blossom from the site of the trauma. I don't think I have words to describe it. It was like something from an early Disney cartoon, "Fantasia" perhaps. It looked like a magic cobra spiralling up from the swami's basket. There was no green vine; each unfolding of the petals just produced another, larger blossom which begat another. It wound its way up from the base of her skull towards her forehead, undulating its way slightly from side to side as it grew. Strange.
Now, I'm not necessarily claiming to have had some kind of mystic vision here. I do have a very over-active imagination...sometimes to my great detriment. But for some reason, something she said inspired me to share this story with the head pastor's wife when she came to the hospital to pray for me.
Last night, I was so tired I couldn't even face the group dinner that Kat and Jay's loving friends continue to bring to the hospital. I dragged back to the hotel, plopped down on the bed, and sipped a glass of the wine that Katherine's friend Sally left as a gift for me. It was the first time all day I'd had a chance to check the voicemails. There was one from 'Miss Tanya,' a close friend of Jay's mother Mary Ruth, that Katherine and I claim, too. She is a MAJOR life-force. She and Katherine adore each other...kindred spirits. She is devastated about all of this, and it has brought out righteous anger against the forces of evil in the universe. I have no doubt that she is up in arms against them, and I have a feeling it will be a rout. In her message, she told me that while praying the Word over Katherine, she received one back. She said that there is a great storm going on in unseen realms. She encouraged me to "Find your place in the storm and take a stand. There you will not be moved, though the storm is raging all around you." She said that the little adage, "April showers bring May flowers" had come to her. The storms of April will bring forth buds in Katherine that will blossom into flowers of a rare and beautiful fragrance. (A fragrant offering to our Lord?)
We are living in mysteries.
...and Mary pondered all these things in her heart...
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13 comments:
Kim - I want you to know that your dear Katherine, you, Brooks, and your sweet mother are constantly in my prayers. I have always thought your girls look like and were angels. It is amazing what angels really look like -all shapes, sizes, colors and some with tubes and bruises. Thank you for your faith that you live each day. Please know you are surrounded by love and prayer. If there is anything I can do for your mother here in Athens, please ask. I'd love to feel useful while you are in such need. Much Love - Kathy
Kim,
This is a little difficult for me to express, so bear with me, but I'd like to say something about your vision of the flower. I strongly believe in the healing power of touch, especially between a mother and child. If it be God's will, His healing works through us, His children--as when Jesus laid his hands on the ailing. Indeed, Healing is one of the spiritual gifts God gives to believers (1 Corinthians), and our beliefs are at their most powerful in the presence of those we love. Have faith that your beautiful vision is not just your imagination, but a visual manifestation of a healing event as you help your daughter along her road to recovery through your loving touch.
Best,
MaryJane
Hello Kim! I went to Samford with Katherine and took a few classes with her in Christian Women's Leadership. She radiates Christ and has an amazing heart.
Thanks so much for sharing your heart with us...your words are so real and amazing!
I am faithfully praying for you, Katherine, and your family. Know the Lord is carrying you when you feel weak and worn down by everything!
I hope this song by Ginny Owens encourages you!
"If You Want Me To"
The pathway is broken
And the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to
No I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to You
Then I will go through the fire
If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When You lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone
So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the darkness
If You want me to
I will walk through the valley if You want me to
Yes, I will walk through the valley if You want me to
Blessings,
Lara (Arizona)
Thank you all for your loving,encouraging words. They mean more than you know. Lara, that is one of my favorite songs....and it was playing on the Ipod yesterday morning as Katherine gripped my hands during a painful suction. Another little confirmation....
Thank you all for your loving,encouraging words. They mean more than you know. Lara, that is one of my favorite songs....and it was playing on the Ipod yesterday morning as Katherine gripped my hands during a painful suction. Another little confirmation....
Oops....technophobia.
Kim,
Hello! I am a friend of a friend of Katherine's and have been lifting you all up daily. I truly believe that God gives us signs (and words), like his promise of the rainbow, to help us make it through the valley and remind of us of where we have been.
I heard this song in my car this morning and the tears starting coming. I immediately thought of what you wrote yesterday. It is an upbeat song by Sugarland called "April Showers"
APRIL SHOWERS
Looking for an angel in these hills
Looking for a map to find what we left behind
Knowing that we will
Always end up right where we start
Cause I got time on my hands and hope in my heart
We both understand we weren't meant to be apart
April showers bring May flowers
I have seen rain before
But if Sunday morning lets that sun in
What are we waiting for
Cause love leaves an open door
If I had one day I'd wish for two
One for me, baby, and one for you
And it would find you right where you are
With time on your hands and hope in your heart
We both understand we were written in the stars
April showers bring May flowers
I have seen rain before
But if Sunday morning lets that sun in
What are we waiting for
Cause love leaves an open door
It's worth all the cost
Til I find what I lost in your eyes
And you realize
April showers bring May flowers
I have seen rain before
But if Sunday morning lets that sun in
What are we waiting for
Cause love leaves an open
Wishing and hoping
Love leaves an open door
Christina Lowry
Smyrna, GA
Mrs. Arnold-
Thanks for sharing with all of us who are praying daily and often for Katherine and all of you! I ran across this verse randomly today and thought I'd share it with you:
"I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to Me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!" (John 16:33)
As I've told Amie, let me know if there is anything I can do for y'all here in Athens!
love,
Julie Kristin
Kim,
My husband, BJ, is with Merrill in the Alpharetta office. We want you and Brooks to know that we have been following Katherine's progess and praying for your entire family daily. Our son, Dillon, was diagnosed with an AVM following a seizure at age 10 and underwent 12 hours of surgery at Emory. He was then diagnosed with a dural fistula at age 18. So instead of starting classes at Bama on Aug 22, 2006, he underwent additional brain surgery that day. What I want you to know is that, through these surgeries and recoveries, we found that, with God and an army of prayer warriors, anything is possible. Although Dillon did not suffer a bleed as Katherine did, the recoveries were difficult and we were warned that they were unsure just how much he could recover and continue to grow because the right frontal lobe of his brain had been deprived of proper nourishment for almost 11 years, resulting in learning deficits and emotional immaturity compared to his peers. We had faith and God answered our prayers. Dillon is a sophomore at BAMA now and has made the Dean's list twice. I have faith that God will answer all the many, many heartfelt prayers lifted to Him on Katherine's behalf. I want to thank you for sharing your faith with all of us. We will continue to pray for Katherine and her complete recovery.
Blessings!
Karen & BJ Loyd
Kim,
Technophobia is catching!
I wanted to share a scripture passage with you that God gave to my Mother at a critical time in my life. I believe there is nothing more powerful than a Mother's prayer. Hold to your vision!
Psalm 27:13-14
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Carrying all of you lovingly in my heart and constantly in my prayers.
Kathy Smith
Mrs. Arnold,
Hello! I went to school with Katty and was a ZTA at Samford. Your family has been in my prayers constantly for the past 2 weeks. Katherine made a huge impression on me and even my husband, Josh, who has been praying without ceasing as well. I was singing this in the shower today and thought I would share it with you - It's my favorite hymn and a comfort during hard times:
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
I was also going to share John 16:33 with you but saw someone posted it the other day! The body of Christ is amazing...
God's blessings
Meg Rymer McClung
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