Today’s Bread ~ Broken Bones

1 John 4:9-10 – God showed how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.  This is real love.  It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

I’ve suffered a few broken bones in my day.  Usually due to distance running: two stress fractures along my lower fibula (ankle), and one shattered medial sesamoid bone in my right foot that required surgery.  I also experienced the pleasure of a cracked metatarsal, courtesy of an over-served and over-zealous cowboy (drunk guy in cowboy boot stepped on my sandaled foot while trying to dance). 

On Tuesday, October 11^th, my sweet daughter fell off the monkey bars on the playground and broke her wrist.  Visibly.  Very visibly. 

I rushed to pick her up from the school nurse’s office then raced her to our pediatrician.  One look (that was actually more of a grimace) at Caitlyn’s wrist and the doctor set down her chart.  “Christine,” she called, “please set an appointment for Caitlyn with one of our orthopedic surgeons.”  My throat swelled as my stomach sank.  She confirmed what I had already guessed.  “I don’t need to x-ray this to see that it’s broken.  She will likely need this reset as soon as possible, so we’re going to find an ortho to see her today.”  I nodded.  “Nothing else to eat or drink,” she continued.  I nodded again.  “Any questions?” Still not trusting myself to speak, I shook my head.  She smiled and kissed the top of Caitlyn’s head.  “You’ll be just fine, sweetheart,” she said softly.

I hugged my daughter close.  “Sweetie, we’re going to see another doctor now, and they’re going to fix those bones right up.”  Caitlyn smiled feebly.

A few hours later we pulled into Orthopedic Associates in Flower Mound, and sat down with Dr. Evanich.  He opened his laptop and showed us the X-Ray.  “You can see here that there is a 27 degree break on this bone,” he stated, using his pen as a pointer.  “It can’t stay that way.”  I smiled and nodded.  “I’ve contacted Baylor Surgical Center in Lewisville, and if you can get her there at about 5:45am, I’ll snap that back into place before I start the day’s surgeries.”

A few more instructions and we were headed home.  Caitlyn was all smiles with a new stuffed monkey and a ring-pop.  The anesthesiologist (who, by God’s favor, was a friend from church) called that evening to go over pre-op instructions one more time. I carefully laid out a comfy outfit for my daughter and tucked her into bed.

The next morning we pulled into the surgery center at 5:43am. 

I’ve broken a few bones in my day.  I would gladly take a sledgehammer to all of them if it would’ve saved my sweet daughter the pain she went through that morning.

As the nurse brought me back to the recovery area, I could hear her shrieking.  I raced to her bed to find her hysterical, another nurse holding her down.  “Baby!  I’m here, sweetheart.  Mommy’s here.”  Caitlyn was screaming, kicking her legs, and clenching her teeth.  She couldn’t put a sentence together, only mustering, “Hurts!  Hurts!  Mommy!  Hurts!”

I asked the nurse about pain medication and was answered with a woeful look and a shaking head.  After ten more minutes (that felt like eternity) the doctor walked over.  He agreed to another dose of Tylenol/Codeine, and after another ten long minutes, the nurse returned with the medicine.

God, I prayed silently, give me the pain!  Take the pain away from my daughter and give it to me!  The sight of my shaking, sobbing baby girl on that cold, metal hospital gurney was almost too much to bear.  At that moment, I would’ve done absolutely anything to end her suffering.

John 11:33-35 – When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, He was moved with indignation and was deeply troubled.  “Where have you put him?” He asked.  They told Him, “Lord come and see.”  Then Jesus wept.

Every now and then, through every day circumstances, I feel as though God gives me a glimpse into His heart.  As I sat there, holding my wailing daughter, I thought of Jesus, coming to earth to walk with us, talk to us, and heal us.  So that we might know Him, and know that He knows.  He knows the depths of our sorrow.  He feels our hurt. He knows that life is difficult.  And He wants us to know there is hope.

The author of Hebrews writes, “Because God’s children are human beings – made of flesh and blood – Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form.  For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death (Hebrews 2:14).”  My imaginative mind pictures the Trinitarian God in the Heavens, unable to stand the thought of our sin and suffering.  And instead of leaving mankind to its wickedness, God the Son, Jesus Christ, steps off the throne, and bears our suffering for us.  He endures the punishment of sin so that we won’t have to.  So that He can reconcile us back to the Father, reuniting us to Himself for all eternity.

He would rather go through Hell for you than stay in Heaven without you. 

Don’t let the work on the cross be in vain.

Caitlyn’s bone went back into place nicely, and after a morning spent vomiting from the anesthesia, she curled up on the couch with her monkey, her blankie, and a movie.  The worst is past.

One day, when we sit at the heavenly banquet, with eternity stretched out before us, we will recall this life as one remembers a broken bone from their childhood.  Did it hurt?  Yes.  But in the grand scheme of things it was little more than a blip on the radar.  Jesus’ work on the cross ensures our seat at the table.  His blood ensures our righteousness.  His perfect sacrifice was sufficient.  And Heaven waits for the faithful.

Dear Heavenly Father, we lift up to You all of the concerns of our hearts.  Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit and remind us that our trials are temporary.  Please help us live with eternity in mind.  Please remind us that, when we suffer, we are covered by the blood of One who suffered far more.  Please remind us that, when we are tempted, we serve Your Son, who was also tempted in every way.  Please help us to lean on His strength instead of our own.  Please help us to see opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ, and ease other’s suffering.  Please bring people into our lives that can offer counsel and support when we are the ones hurting.  God, we ask You to help us to love You more.  We ask You to complete the good work that You’ve started in us; making us willing to obey.  Help us to remember the work of the cross and never take it for granted.  We love You, and we pray these things in the beautiful, blessed name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.