There is a song that plays on the radio frequently, sung by Brit Nicole and written by Lara Story. The song is called "Blessings," and there was a time not long ago in which I absolutely hated the song. The following is the excerpt I found distressing:
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise...?
I hated the idea that pain and suffering could be God's way of answering prayers, but my impressions changed drastically two months ago when my dad went into the hospital for chest pains.
You see, over the course of this summer, I prayed a regular prayer for my parents. I prayed that God would keep them healthy and give them long life. I recorded this prayer countless times in my daily prayer journal.
Then, I get the phone call that Dad is in the hospital, he had chest pains, and they are running tests to see if he had a heart attack. The tests turned into a catheterization, which then led to open heart surgery. My dad had five by-passes sewn into the arteries leading to his heart. But, from the moment I knew my dad had gone to the emergency room for the chest pain, I prayed that God would not let him out of the hospital until everything in his body was fixed. I hated to wish for my dad to have such an intrusive surgery, but I felt deep within myself that I would prefer that than to have him sent home only to have a massive heart attack follow in time. So, I prayed for the doctors to find the problem with Dad's heart and to correct it.
The most difficult days of my dad's life, and I would say my mom's and mine, and our entire family's, ensued. Seeing my dad off to enter surgery was the most emotional moment of my life, and then seeing him afterwards, when he was still hooked up to the breathing tube and coming out of anasthesia, puffy and clammy, was traumatic as can be. Yet, I knew within myself in those moments that God's blessing was coming through these tears and God's healing would come from this pain that my dad was feeling. I am certain, that as difficult as this experience was for my family, it was an answer to prayer.
Now, eight weeks have passed since my dad's surgery, and he looks better than he has in years. He has lost thirty or more pounds, he is eating healthy, exercising, and I am just so proud of how diligent and spirited he has been about his recovery. Now, he is ready to welcome his new grandson into the world in a little over a month, and I am so thankful to God because I know He is answering my prayer for my parents, for health and a long life, especially because this experience has also encouraged my mom to change her lifestyle, as well.
Now, I understand Lara Story's song. Now, I appreciate that God's blessings can come through tears and His healing can come through pain, and it isn't a bad thing, after all.
