Friday, January 24, 2014

Not Above What You Are Able To Bear


It was a very rough night for Dad; and Deb being the resident RN, the majority of the responsibility (she would say privilege) fell to her.

Dad has been prescribed Tamiflu and its side effects can be daunting for people who are healthy. For someone with pulmonary fibrosis the side effects can be staggering.

He managed to keep down some electrolyte-spiked beverages and a small bowl of thin oatmeal gruel this morning. He spoke a brief birthday greeting on the phone to his beloved Lloyd, friends for over 60 years now.

But then this afternoon, when I was in the grocery store getting ready for the weekend at the Tea House, I got an urgent text from Deb at 4:41:

Really bad cramps - please pray

And in the aisle that holds basmati rice and dosai mixes and coconut milk and mango juice I stopped and forwarded on her text to a few of you whose numbers I have in my phone. 

Immediately the responses came back:
  • Praying
  • We're on it
  • Praying
  • I will pray for him. I'm sorry to hear that
  • xoxo
Two of my Chelli sisters, Salome and Naomi, called me, and others of them called my Ironside sisters.

Then at 4:47 I heard from Deb again:

Seriously ... subsided within 5 mins of sending out a text for prayer! 
He's almost resting now

I got back to Deb's house as fast as I could and went up the stairs to see him.

He was ashen against the sheets, and utterly exhausted. In a very muted voice he said that the pain had been so intense he thought he couldn't bear it.

"But then God brought two thoughts to my mind," he said. The first was of Mum."

One night, at about 2 a.m., Mum's pain was so eviscerating that she groaned, "Dad, the pain is too much ..." 

"There was nothing I could do," he whispered to me with tears rolling down his face at the memory of that awful night.

The second thought that came to him were these words from the Bible, found in the apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 10 and verse 13:

There has no [testing] taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be [tested] above that you are able, but will with the [trial] also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

"And I thought to myself, 'Just think how Christ suffered - He has felt every pain that we go through and far more!' " he exclaimed.

"And as I concluded that verse, the awful pain started to subside."

"God is able, honey," he said. "He might even want me to go to India - He is already providing ..."

I must have reacted adversely, because he hastened to assure me that he wouldn't go if he felt like this. "Dr Rimmer won't sign off on you," I interjected dryly. 

"Not only that, but I would have to gain a lot of strength. I feel so, so weak right now," he acknowledged.

We talked briefly about how many people are praying for him all over the world, how many people love him and are rooting for his recovery. And then I had to leave, to come back to the TH and unpack the groceries that this evening seem like sandpaper and sawdust to me.

I kissed him on his forehead, our family's traditional "blessing kiss" started by my grandmother or her mother or hers before that.

"I love you, Dad," I murmured as his eyes drifted shut again and he settled more deeply back into the pillows and covers.

Deb had to give him his second dose of Tamiflu later this evening. The worst of the effects should hit him between midnight and 1 a.m. Please remember this man, a treasure in so many of our lives, as once again his already frail, tired body has to battle the medicine that is supposed to help him.


38 comments:

  1. You have my cell number in your phone. Feel free to text me. We want to be kept informed so we can pray intelligently. We will pray for him at midnight. Love you! Would have phoned you but didn't know if that was best or not.

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    1. Thank you, Rosalie. I had been away from my computer for some time so didn't know you had read the first post and knew about what was going on until I saw your comment when I got back to Trois Lumps tonight. You will be on my short list! It means so much to me that you will be praying into the wee watches ...

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  2. Christine Gillespie- OhlhauserJanuary 24, 2014 at 11:04 PM

    praying he can sleep well tonight

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    1. Thank you, Christine. I am well aware that you know of what you pray. xo

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  3. Precious privilege indeed, to share this time and Dad's life. He was joking with the boys this evening, and sharing in stories as he lay resting, still very weak. May Acts 3:16 be true of Dad. Jesus, he is resting in the joy of what Thou art.

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  4. We are praying for him, Debbie, and the night ahead. Also thinking of you and tomorrow's busyness.

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  5. Praying for him. And you girls as well. God Bless

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  6. Praying Karyn.

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  7. Dear Karyn, sorry to learn of your dear Dad's ill health. Be assured of my prayers for recovery of his health. I praise the Lord for Bro. Allan's input in my life. I remember welcoming him in Mumbai 55 years ago. God has made him blessing to many through his and yes through your Mum's simple life style and teaching because of which many are serving the Lord and I am one of them. Be encouraged, Dad will be well soon

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  8. I'm up until after midnight my time, 1AM yours...Please know that I'll be praying for strength and comfort. Love to you, friend

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  9. It is midnight and I just read your most recent post. I am praying......Praying against the side effects of the medication and for the pain to subside so your dad can get the needed rest to allow his body to recover. I will continue to do so as I go to bed myself. "The steadfast love of The Lord never faileth. His mercy's never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness oh Lord."

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  10. My heart breaks for him in his suffering...praying for you all....wishing him wellness and strength!

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  11. We are praying for his comfort and rest. Love him... Please let him know!!!

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  12. Dear Karyn,
    Praying with you all.I trust our Almighty God who is also our Jehovah Rapha the Lord our Healer.There is power in prayer.Love you all.

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  13. your dad is a sweetheart through and through. my prayers are for you all as you speak comfort and peace to him. the promises of our Lord never fail. joy shall embrace you come morning.... as your heart rests in these truths.

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  14. Very sorry to know the state of you Dad... will be in prayer. Sathish, Deepa Samual Kota.. BBB&C

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  15. praying here in Spain...hopefully with the 8 hour time difference this will help to cover him in prayer while others sleep

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  16. To our dear friend, Bruce wept at the news and we prayed together for your speedy recovery, as we all need your goodness in our lives.

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  17. Continuously praying for dad.will be fasting for him tomorrow.Jesus never fails and He always answer prayers.Please give him a big hug and kisses from us.

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  18. Alana and Richard PettiferJanuary 25, 2014 at 7:18 AM

    Praying for you all.

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  19. Sure, we will uphold in our prayer. Take care.

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  20. You were my first thoughts upon waking early this morning....

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  21. We love you Karyn, you are an amazing family! You're in our thoughts.

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  22. Just read this now Karyn. Hoping his night was restful and praying for strength in the day ahead...for all of you!

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  23. Healing thoughts and prayers are being sent to your dad and whole family.

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  24. continuing to pray

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  25. Praying for healing and that God would give him the desire of his heart in March:). I love reading the posts and "traveling through India with you:)". May the Lord sustain you strengthen you and Deb as you care for him in the days to come.

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  26. Tears well up reading the memory of your Mom a strength in turn through ministering to your Dad. A humble servant he has been and showers our Lords steadfast love, grace and mercy in the blessings that is written, hugs, spoken...
    Continuing to pray.. xo

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  27. Thank you for sharing this Karyn - so beautifully written.
    We are thinking of you and praying for your Dad.

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  28. Still praying today as we go about our activities. Love you all so much. :)

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  29. Your dad and your family are in my thoughts and prayers Karyn...

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  30. Your dad and your family are in my thoughts and prayers Karyn...

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  31. praying for your Dad

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  32. Praying for Your dad and for you and your siblings. I choke up as I think of your dads prayer of dedication for Ruby-Ann and of how he prayed at different events involving my granny. I know if Ruby-Ann understood she would be giving special hugs to you all. Much love.

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  33. Praying for you all! Hugs!

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  34. God bless him.

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  35. So sorry to hear this....I'll be praying for your Dad!

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