When it’s my turn to blog, I usually sit in my overstuffed leather chair in the corner of my living room. It’s my favorite writing spot.
Today I’m writing this blog from a place I never expected to be–sitting in a recliner beside my very sick son’s bed in a university hospital three hours from home.
My twenty-year-old son’s bronchitis morphed into pneumonia, then his temperature spiked, and he developed jaundice. Right now his liver is inflamed. He has an enlarged spleen. He is incredibly weak, and his immune system is very low due to low white blood cells. His team of doctors have run about a billion and one tests to figure out the complexity of his illness.
My post isn’t so much about him, but if you would like to pray, I will cherish your prayers.
I would like to talk about the love of friendship.
You see, my heart is bursting with incredible gratitude because of the love and support from friends, both close personal friends to those whom live across the country. And some of those friends are complete strangers.
I’ve been posting updates about my son on Facebook. Friends are sharing within their circles, their church prayer chains and Heaven is being bombarded with petitions for healing on our behalf.
People are calling, texting, emailing, sending Facebook messages, asking what they can do to help. Friends have offered to take care of business matters for my two business. Friends offered to take care of my sweet dog Penny. Friends have offered gas money, restaurant gift cards or to travel a couple of hours just to sit with us.
I have an online friend whom I’ve never met in person who offered to have her bone marrow tested in case we needed to get a donor. A friend, whom I haven’t seen since high school, is going to be at the same hospital today, so she plans to stop by.
Let’s face it–we’re all busy, but when we take the time out of our crazy busy lives to care for others, then we are being Jesus in the skin.
And that, my friends, is the true love of friendship.
Married 25 years to her real-life hero, award-winning author Lisa Jordan knows a thing or two about romance. She and her husband have two young adult sons who have their own creative streaks. By day, Lisa is an early childhood educator. By night, she writes contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after for Love Inspired. She is the Forum Coordinator for My Book Therapy. She is represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such. In her spare time (ha!), she loves good books, romantic comedies, crafting with friends and feeding her NCIS addiction. Visit Lisa at www.lisajordanbooks.com.
Oh Lisa! I’m so glad you’ve got friends close by! And know that all of us are out here praying for you! {{LISA and FAM}}
I’ll definitely be praying – and I’m so glad you have friends like that who are gathering to offer support in whatever ways they can.
Praying, Lisa. My son was in pediatric ICU a year ago for a few days and we experienced that friendship love too. Hang in there.
Praying, Lisa!
Continuing to pray, Lisa. And SO thankful for friends!
My heart aches for the uncertainties you face. My daughter spent several months in the PICU, and I am intimately acquainted with the emotional roller coast ride that can accompany anything related to our children’s health. I will be praying God’s peace for you and your entire family, not to mention wisdom and healing. Just remember, even when the uncertainties seem gigantic, you have one absolute certainty. God loves you and your entire family in the kind of limitless way that we can’t fully comprehend. Cling to that certainty. Hugs.
Thank you, Carol! The prayer support is amazing.
Thank you, Kimberly! Pediatric ICU can be so scary. The love of others helps us to keep going.
Thank you, Hallee!
Thank you, Val. I’m so thankful for friends like you who are so quick to step in when needed. :)
Thank you, Elizabeth. The outpouring of support has been amazing.
Heather, you’re so right about God being an absolute certainty. Thank you for praying.
I loved your post about your friends being there for you. It is always a blessing to see God’s people being there for each other. I will be praying for your son and your family as you go through this tough time.