life

Life is full of surprises but it is good to be practically reminded that the Lord is actively involved in it.   The day before Ron had his (near fatal) accident I had started to read 'when God weeps, why our sufferings matter to the Almighty' - co-authored by Joni Earikson Tada.   What a good thing it is that God is SO great that He directs which books I should read!   I got through the first 3 or 4 chapters, then, the next day, I got the practical application - I took it into hospital with me and continued to read it.   When looking for another book I happened to notice I had too copies of this book - so when David was visiting Ron in A and E I asked him if he'd see it, since he hadn't I gave him that copy and collected the other when I went home for a cup of tea and to escape the distressing language of the little drunk fellow in the bed next to Ron.
I was telling a friend about the book and the accident - he told me 'I shall be very certain not to pick up any books on the subject of suffering....'.  
In discussion with Ron , after he had had his stitches out on Monday, we discussed how our intermittent weariness with life is incompatible with our reaction when we come close to actually departing!    I think that most people who read this blog will have had a detailed update on the events of the past two weeks, but for those who haven't...

Two weeks ago today, Ron did office work and went out to work on the nursery at 9.15am.   He was using the front-loader of the tractor to move some tree-trunk which were lying around after being cut down a month or so earlier.   He's not sure what actually happened but he says the trunk slipped and hit him in the 'face'.  He variously believes he passed out and didn't pass out.  When he 'came round' the tractor was rolling backwards so he pulled the stop.  Realising that he was bleeding he got his (very unhygienic!) hanky out of his pocket and applied it to his head.   Making his way slowly back to the house he appeared in the doorway groaning - I was tidying in the schoolroom and turned round to see the casualty looking (as I thought) like he might fall on the floor - the matter which took control of my thoughts was 'get  a chair' - which I did - reluctant to sit down, he did comply.   He wasn't there long before he was up again and heading for the lounge.   getting another chair set out I begged him to sit down and it began to dawn on me that I'd need to take him to A and E.  When I suggested this he said 'no, I'll be alright' - that stumped me - I couldn't exactly order him into the car!   Panic was beginning to seize  me and in between asking God 'what on earth' I was supposed to do now and walking variously round in circles and up and down the house, Simon (bless him) declared we needed an ambulance.  Ron eased himself off the chair onto the floor feeling a need to lie down - and I got (or asked for?) pillows!   Once Simon was calling 999 I knew I had to get knitting, phone, drink, food and shoes - which helped me focus!    Simon asked James to go to the end of the lane and look for the ambulance and then decided it were best if he went himself.  Meanwhile Joanna and James had the presence of mind to variously get wet face-cloths and towels to place on Ron's head - and mop up the floor.   I had a total LACK of presence of mind....   The first ambulance crew, uncertain what to do with the case, called up a second crew.  Talk of the need for him to go to St George's in London meant that I went with him in the ambulance - that way I'd not have any difficulty finding him or parking.   In the event he stayed at St Peter's A and E until 2.30am.  The sewing up was done around 6pm and took a  couple  of hours. David came and kept us company for several hours and left at 11pm while we waited for a neck brace which would enable Ron to go home safely with his fractured vertebra.    Still in pain and unable to work, he is thankful that the Lord has spared his life.   Philip came and collected the plants which Ron was to have delivered at the end of that week. Thomas has been able to help out by now being on the insurance for the delivery van.  

In the midst of all this, my dear Dad has been very unwell and I 've been up to Manchester a couple of times over the past 5 weeks.   Dad is, now, thankfully on the mend - our prayers have borne fruit in his recent hospital stay and we continue to pray that he might recover and find peace with his Maker in due course.   I've made him a lap-quilt with quotes from Psalm 23 embroidered (by machine!) onto it which he seemed to appreciate.  While he is still recovering he is willing to listen to Thomas' most recent sermon - the link to which I haven't yet been able to get to him.... -  and we pray that the Lord might give Thomas the joy of knowing that this will be the means of eternal good to him.

The prayers of many friends - old and new - are achieving far more than any of us can know and encouraging me to be more prayerful for others.