Author: © Christian National Church of Christ

Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
– Isaiah 25:3-4

Beautiful verse’s Isaiah’s words about strength, refuge, and protection for the vulnerable are comforting and powerful; they remind us that shelter and hope can come even in the fiercest storms.

I remember I was mad at my nephew. I woke up in the hospital with tubes down my throat. I tried pulling the tubes out. They locked down my hands. I don’t remember much in the hospital. I remember they moved me to a room with a lady, and she was talking about her situation I hardly remember. But they came in and moved me to a corner room all by myself. People had to where gowns and a mask. I was so distraught. But Jennifer Rose stayed with me without a robe and mask and by myside. I love her for that. I loved all my family didn’t understand why I was there with a pick-line. I remember this dr trying to put the pick line in and he was going through my collar bone that was stuck to my other bone. I was strangled in 1983 ended up with broken collar bones and ruptured glans back then and wearing a collar like a dog. But back to Texas Hospital. I finally was able to come home with the pick line. Then I couldn’t breathe. I ended up back at the hospital. Then they rushed me to Methodist Hospital where they did a Tracheostomy. The surgeon told me the other hospital messed me up in not so kind of words he told me the other hospital punctured my right lung. That my windpipe was a size of a child. That is why so much pain and so much mucus in my lungs. I will never forget my past. It has taught me a lot more than anyone will ever know. My family, grandchildren, kindness of others and our church family. God brings gains and losses. Storms and beautiful days. But knowing he has never left me of forsaked me like others have. I have freedom to do good in life and hope that my faith even through the wrongs other have done the Dear Blessed Lord Jesus will always fight for me and see me for me. Not what others believe or perceive. There maybe always a new storm but I know Thank God through it all brings blessings of healing and new days I can breathe in.

“For Jennifer Rose”

You sat beside me in the hush of night, no gown, no mask, just steady light. When tubes and fear had stolen breath, you held a vigil against the dark of death.

Hands locked, alarms, the world turned thin, you stayed — a shelter where healing could begin. While strangers moved me, cold and small, your presence was a fortress, a gentle wall.

You heard my ragged prayers and kept them near, you turned my terror into something dear. For every frightened hour you chose to stay, my heart keeps thank yous I cannot say.

God knows the storms and how you stood, a quiet mercy, brave and good. With all my love and grateful grace, I carry you forever in this place.

Love always Susan

“Those Who Stood By Me Through It All”

Your steady presence carried me through the worst of nights; being Jesus to me this is for every hand, every prayer, every quiet vigil. You came when the wind tore at my door, when breath was thin and the world felt sore. You sat like lanterns in a storm-dark room, turning fear to warmth, turning dread to bloom. You held my silence, heard my ragged prayer, kept watch when hope seemed thin as air. You wrapped your courage round my trembling chest, gave me a place to rest, a place to rest. When tubes and alarms made the hours long, you hummed a steady, faithful song. When strangers hurried and the night grew cold, your hands were anchors, gentle and bold. For every meal brought, every whispered name, for every visit that eased the flame, for laughter shared and tears made light, for staying through the longest night I carry you like sunlight after rain, a quiet healing through the pain. May blessings find you, near and far, my grateful heart remembers who you are.