I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton

My Miracle Man & Me.


My beach combing exploits have been temporarily  interrupted by my Hubby who decided to have a heart attack on Saturday night. I was watching some tv in the living room when I heard him call my name from the bedroom.  "Oh for goodness sake, what does he want now" I thought to myself & continued to watch tv.  After a minute or so my conscience elbowed me hard & I walked back to see what he needed.  I found him gripping the sink & in extreme pain from his jaw to his chest. We live 3 minutes from a hospital so I hustled him outside to the car & off we bolted off to the ER. 

That was Saturday night & he came home Tuesday afternoon with a stint in his LAD.  The doctor assured me someone was looking out for Hubby because blockage in that artery is usually non-negotiable. I asked the doctor "Isn't that artery called the Widow Maker?".  "Yes" he grinned "But I don't as a rule use that term with the spouse".  My last year has been spent caring for his various ailments that range from back to lungs to heart. I'm so thankful that things turned out the way they did.  My Heavenly Father showed up with His goodness & mercy from the  capable doctors at an award-winning hospital to VA covering the bill.


 I told the Hubby that if I would've had to pick out a headstone for him it would have said "I told you I was sick".  I've given myself a swift kick in the mental rear end and made some minor adjustments in my attentions towards him.  I hope you enjoy a post I did last Easter.  I pray that the Lord would be with you this Passover & Easter season.  That His Face would shine upon you & your family and be gracious to you in this season as we celebrate New Life.



(Originally posted April 9, 2011)
 "Some keep the Sabbath going to Church, I keep it staying at Home - With a bobolink for a Chorister, And an Orchard, for a Dome." ~Emily Dickinson

The moon & Orion's Belt to the right

I was talking to a fellow fossil hunter on the beach the other day. The conversation had turned toward the existence of God. He confessed to me that he was not religious.  I smiled at him and said "Me neither". I spread my arms out as if to embrace the amazing blue sky we were standing under -  "This is my church" I said. 

 Now I do have a local church  that I am a member of.  I call them my tribe. My tribe knows me well enough that if I lead a prayer meeting it won't be inside the building. It will be outside under a huge oak tree on our property. I am also prone to prayer walk-abouts.  I have a beach fellowship and our patron saint is St. Sharks Tooth & St. Arbuck's. There is something about sharing some time on the beach with friends, listening to the waves, and soaking up some sun that builds friendships. I'm into relationship not religion.  I think most people like the fossil hunter I was talking to don't have a problem with the existence of God.  They just don't get some of the people that say they know Him. 

I guess because Easter is upon us I've been thinking  alot lately about Jesus living in a town on the Sea of Galilee. I bet He took tons of beach walks. I wonder what kind of shells He picked up? Probably calico scallops.  I wonder as He was looking up at the sky at night if He pointed out constellations to His friends.  "Look Guys, there's Orion.  See the 3 stars in the belt. Wait till you find out what that means." It was on the beach 40 years ago sitting under a star-filled sky that I had my first God encounter.  My heart was just suddenly overwhelmed  with the beauty of creation and somewhere deep inside myself I just knew that I knew that I knew.


 After 40 years I know enough about Theology to be dangerous. Over the years I've listened to preachers & teachers. My hobby is studying early Church history.   I've read all the latest books on how to know God till my head has been swimming in information. I always go back to that starry night on the beach 40 years ago.  My heart always knows God in a way my head can not.  It's pretty simple really. The famous Sermon on the Mount that Jesus taught in His huge outdoor cathedral on the side of a mountain overlooking the sea 2,000 years ago can be summed up in 4 words. Love God - Love people.  Works for me.


A sand dollar shell looks sort of like a round white coin, which is where it gets its name

The skeleton of a Crucifix Catfish
 Sciades proops 
(Valenciennes, 1840)
Scallop shell, stained glass, St Andrew's Church, Chelmondiston, Suffolk. The scallop shell is the symbol of St James the Great, one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem collected scallop shells as souvenirs.



Comments

  1. Hi Karen
    I am so grateful to hear that your husband is a miracle man...what a scare!!! Praying for a full recovery.(and you can be sure I'll listen to Marty a lot more!)

    Your post is absolutely beautiful...and your thoughts truly echo mine. I have been on Sand Key for the past 2 weeks, trying to heal from an upper respiratory infection that just won't go away...I had several encounters with our Father...walking the beach and just talking with Him...looking over the gulf at the expanse of the sea...watching the sky being painted by His hand...seeing the beauty of His sea creatures as they passed by...He fills my heart, my soul, and my mind.
    May you have a truly blessed Easter...
    Love,
    Jane

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  2. so happy your hubby survived and you both are taking care of one another. I agree.. Love God and love people. People need to do more of that these days. xo Great post. Happy Easter week to you! xo

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  3. What a jolt you had on the weekend. I'm so glad you have a miracle man and that he is now safely home. God bless you both and may you have a blessed Easter weekend.

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  4. This explains why you've been on my heart so much the past several days!
    Rejoicing with you that things turned out well & agreeing with you for your hubby's full recovery to perfect health!

    Love, hugs & blessings <3

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  5. So sorry to hear about his (and your) ordeal. So glad he was able to call out to you, and not too stubborn to seek medical attention. I really need to have my hubby read this, as we had our own episodes with heart attacks the last couple of weeks. He really needs to take the widow maker into consideration. Thanks for posting this Karen, and may your husband have a speedy and healthy recovery. You are in my thoughts and prayers!

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  6. sorry to hear your news! it must have been a shock for you both. best wishes for a full recovery.
    x

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  7. Sorry to hear about your husbands attack, but you are so blessed that he is fine. We, too, were lucky in that respect. My hubby went in for a stint and ended up with double bypass surgery. The doctors were amazed that he hadn't had a heart attack before they found his problem. The Widow Maker lost that round too!

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  8. I'm so happy your husband is ok. I had to laugh out loud at your comment tho about "What does he want now?" because I do the same thing. Time for a reality check for me. Loved your post. "Love God-Love people" and I love you too. That day we spent together on the beach was one of the nicest days I've ever had, and your generosity of heart and spirit left a lasting impression. I'm so glad you're my friend.

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  9. Hi sweetie - happy that your hubby is doing ok. Glad that you live so close to the hospital too. Will keep you both in my thoughts & prayers.

    Hugs,
    Marie
    xoxo

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  10. I am glad your husband is ok Karen. I also like the thought of Jesus as a beachcomber on the old sea of Galilee. Sandels off, not even thinking of making wine from water, just focused on shelling. I like to think he was looking for olives. You know he had one in his pocket somewhere. That should be a sticker " Jesus was a Sheller for Christ Sake)

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  11. Glad he is ok-take good care of him and make him eat healthy and go on walks on the beach. Have a blessed Easter my friend.

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  12. Wow, Karen!!! You never know what's going to happen with that guy of yours, do you! One day at a time as you said...and have a blessed Easter!

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  13. That night shot is surreal.
    Happy Easter & hope you have a great break!
    x
    Melissah

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  14. Oh Karen. I truly hate to hear about your husband. I am happy to hear that surgery went well. We just never know do we? Hope you have a very special Easter!!!

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  15. So sorry to hear about your husband's heart attack but so glad he is ok! How scary! I love your thoughts on religion. I always say the beach is my "church," my spiritual place. I hope you have a wonderful Easter.
    Your Nokomis neighbor, Martha

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  16. OMG, what a nightmare... So glad to hear your hubby is ok, Karen! Take good care and have a blessed & happy Easter.

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  17. Hi Karen; You write such lovely words of love and passion. I am so glad your husband is on the mend and is able to celebrate Easter at home. I had no idea about the history of the scallop shell. Thank you & happy Easter.
    Donna in Tulsa

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  18. How scary, I am so glad he is doing well.

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  19. Thinking of you and hoping things havesettled down a bit for you now...beach hugs to ya, sistah!!

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  20. What a shock! I'm keeping your hubby in my prayers....and you, too, my friend! ♥

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