Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: HEALTH (10/13/16)
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TITLE: Abnormal Normal | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ingrid Forsberg
10/18/16 -
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“I came in to check on you Joan. You had another seizure about an hour ago,” Joan's mther said with a mixture of fear, love, and concern in her eyes.
“I know mom. Thanks for checking up on me. I just need a little more rest,” Joan said closing her eyes. Seizures left her exhausted, depressed, and so very cold. Her mother quietly left the room. Joan knew she would not get a driver’s license, not now, not after this. Guess I’ll have to forget about driving for long time, she thought.
Joan could hear her mother talking on the phone. “Yes pastor, she’ll be alright.”
“Why does mom have to tell the world about my seizure?” She muttered. This was so embarrassing to her. Joan just wanted to be a normal teenager, though her father said no teenager was normal.
“This one was really hard. I’m worried. The meds don’t seem to be working. What? I made a doctor’s appointment. When? Today, as soon as they can get her in. OK, I’ll let you know. Thanks for praying.” She paused then added, “Thank the prayer chain for me will you?” She was silent a moment then said, “I am so thankful for all the intercession. You bet I will.”
Joan heard her mother put the receiver down on the antique telephone that had been her grandmother’s. Joan pulled the covers over her head and went back to sleep.
Dinner time and Joan still didn’t feel great. She flopped lethargic and disheartened into her regular place at the dinner table. The family bowed their heads as her father said grace. “Lord, I thank You for providing yet another meal. And I’m so grateful Joan was home when the seizure happened and not while she was surfing at a beach party. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.” Joan’s father said short prayers at the dinner table. He liked his food hot.
“Cheer up Joan,” her father said as he passed her the salad bowl, “the sky hasn’t fallen yet.”
“Dad,” Joan responded, “that doctor was sure I had been drinking. He said drinking would have triggered the seizure. I told him I wasn’t drinking because I don’t drink. But he didn’t believe me.”
“I believe you honey. He doesn’t know or love you like we do.”
Joan avoided eating salad or anything that her hurting mouth screamed about. It was times like this she was especially thankful for creamy mashed potatoes.
That evening at family altar Joan’s father finished the nightly readings from the book of Job. “So, what are some of the things we can learn from this?” he asked his family.
“I know something,” Joan’s little brother said. “The devil hates us! And people can be real jerks when they don’t understand, just like Job’s friends.”
“And my doctor,” added Joan. “But I think trusting God in good times and bad times is a major lesson.”
“I’ll add to that,” said Joan’s mom. “It’s in the hard times; the dark times that we get closer to Him. I know that I know Him better today than I did yesterday.”
Joan went to sleep that night with a melody of words in her heart, “Many things about tomorrow (and today) I don’t seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow. And I know who holds my hand.”
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I Know Who Holds Tomorrow -- Words and Music by Ira Stanphill. Written in 1950
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