Sunday Musings & Storytelling Sunday

Sian has begun a monthly celebration featuring Storytelling Sunday. On the first Sunday of every month, she will share a tale or two and others are invited to join in. I've enjoyed reading other bloggers' stories and decided this month to share one of my own.

This story came to mind when I read Sian's Christmas Club Three story about a time she was in the hospital as a young girl. It reminded me of the time I was in the hospital during my sixth grade year. I still have some memorabilia from that hospital stay: the card that came with the flower arrangement from our church, my hospital bracelet and diet card, and a Welcome Home sign my sister made.

Actually there are two stories about my stay in the hospital. I'd really like to create a layout with each story, maybe that will be a project (or two) that I work on this week. For now, here's the first story:

Recently at a church meeting, someone commented that he rarely prays for himself because he spends his prayer time interceding for his family and friends. He said he felt it was selfish to pray for himself.  I was surprised by that comment as I often (ok, daily) pray for myself and it brought to mind a lesson I learned thirty years ago. During my sixth grade year, I was in the hospital for several days due to an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. I had become dehydrated, so I was admitted to the hospital and an IV inserted in my arm. I remember the IV slipped out of the vein and my arm began to swell as the fluid filled it. The next IV was inserted into a vein in my hand and my hand and arm were taped to a sturdy piece of Styrofoam to keep me from moving and causing the needle to slip again. Our pastor and his wife came to visit me in the hospital. I don’t remember if it was the second or third day I was there, but I do remember that they prayed for my healing before they left. The next day I began feeling better and was soon back at home. I’m sure that my parents were praying for me throughout the ordeal, but when the pastor and his wife prayed for me that day and I began to get better, I wondered why had I not prayed for myself before then! This was the first time I can remember connecting prayer with healing and the lesson has stuck with me throughout my life. When I began to feel ill, I know that I can ask God for healing and He will hear my prayer.  The Bible says to ask and you will receive, so I believe it is ok to pray for ourselves and the Lord will hear and answer.

Oh, and the second story about my hospital stay . . . that one is about Brain Battle, but it'll have to wait for another day.