In a few days, it will be the anniversary of my stroke, February 7th. Okay, I wonder if it is weird to celebrate a stroke? It kinda seems so to me. But I am doing it. My kids are coming over. I am going to have a BBQ and a fire in my fire pit, and we will make Smores. Whoo hoo. So here’s what I’m thinking. If you want to celebrate with us, you can celebrate from wherever you are with your favorite dessert on Monday evening February 7th. I am thinking maybe pictures would be great. Maybe that idea is just too weird, you decide.
Do you know what happened to me that morning after the stroke — I woke up. I woke up to a new morning. A chance for a new life. The week after my stay at the hospital I went to church. I shared some of what happened to me in my previous post. As I said, I wasn’t really able to follow the sermon, but I knew what the pastor was talking about. He was preaching about Lazarus. And though I couldn’t follow the sermon, I knew the story of Lazarus. Lazarus had died and laid in the tomb for four days, and while everyone was mourning, Jesus showed up and raised him up from the dead.
I was thinking about that story, Jesus calling for Lazarus, and Lazarus blindly coming up from the tomb. And I wonder if that happened to me. It wasn’t like I had a near death experience or anything like that, but I wonder. That’s what I was thinking about that Sunday morning. Wonder if Jesus called me like he called Lazarus.
I still wonder if that happened. I don’t know. But I do know this, tomorrow morning is never for sure. And I am grateful for every morning. And if God gave me a few mornings, like Lazarus, I want to live them to the fullest. Three hundred and sixty five new mornings. I think that is something to celebrate. So if you want, break out the Twinkies, or some ice cream, or maybe some celery sticks and carrots, and celebrate with us. Whoo ho!!
