June 5, 2012

When It Rains …

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You know the saying: “When it rains, it pours.”  That is a life truth!  In the past three weeks so many people we know and love have had the guillotine of sickness fall on their lives.

I feel like our loved ones have been barraged! A good friend’s husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the same time  the friend learned she had Lyme’s disease AND diabetes.  A mass the size of an orange was found in the lung of a sweet twenty-something woman from our church. And my sweet nephew contracted thyroiditis, a serious ailment that has left him in the hospital for the past week in constant and debilitating pain.

I talk to my sister each day to get the update, but it is not good.  It is a devastating thing to have a child in pain whom you cannot help.  His pain could go on for weeks to months.

There isn’t much I can do to help any of these people physically. So I do the one thing I can do. I pray.  I pray hard. I pray every day that God will send them comfort and help them to feel His love in their time of sorrow and need. I’m praying when I’m folding laundry, chopping vegetables, attempting to run on the treadmill at the gym.

I’m not telling you this to say “Oh, look at me, I’m so spiritual. I think of others. Aren’t I awesome?”  I’m telling you because yesterday when you told me you would pray for me and my hearing {which doesn’t seem so bad when I think what others are going through}, it buoyed my spirits.  I felt so much love and relief and encouragement.

I’m telling you because I believe there is a REAL POWER that comes from uniting together to pray for an individual or individuals. I believe that God hears every prayer uttered by every single person and He wants to answer them because He loves us.

So, today I need a favor.  Will you pray for my nephew Owen?  He is eleven. He is brilliant.  He is funny. And he really needs a miracle. I know you don’t know Owen. But you know me.  And he is part of me.

Thank you for your thoughts and comments yesterday.  I am really going to be alright.  And for the past two days, the ringing in my ear has been very quiet.  Still there, but quiet, as if God needed me to listen and hear the needs of others more clearly.

11 comments:

Heather L. said...

I will pray for Owen. I am so sorry to hear of all this sickness.

Tobi said...

I agree that you can always find someone who is enduring worse trials. But I don't think anyone should use that to diminish their own trial. Trials are real and painful and unique to each individual. Too often we don't give ourselves permission or time to grieve. And I think we all need that time to say this stinks and I don't like it!

The Queen Vee said...

Thank you DF, prayer is powerful, we can never have too many especially when one is facing a trial. We're praying for Owen, it would be wonderful if we could just see a bit of improvement, a bit of light in the dark tunnel.

brendag said...

Samantha, I am so sorry to hear about your nephew, I will prayer for Owen. Please keep us posted.

AllisonK said...

I just taught the President George Albert Smith lesson on prayer and gained once again a strong testimony of prayer! Your poor family. Thinking and praying for you.

Kernal Ken said...

Thank you all for your prayers for Owen. We are praying that he will have the courage to eat, though in pain, so that he will have the strength and energy to get better.

In the words of Winston Churchill, "If you're going through Hell — keep going!"

Apis Melliflora said...

We are doiing hard things over here. Don't take swallowing for granted! Owen is praying for all those who are praying for him. Your prayers are helping.

Sue said...

One thing I know for sure is that God can intervene at anytime. The question He asks is, "What course of action will best mold My child into the exalted being I know he or she can become?"

Some people are healed to stand as a witness of Christ's miracles. Some people struggle and fight the good fight to stand as a witness of the comforting power of the Spirit and the endless loyalty of our Savior as He waits by our side to send us strength.

Regardless of God's methods, He is with us and our faith is what sustains us. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I love you Carlsons so much!

Suzy J said...

I gave a talk in sacrament a few months ago and quoted a dear friend who said "when it rains....it stops!" She reminded me that Noah didn't flood the earth forever. Eventually it stopped. In the midst of the ALL the yuck, I have to sometimes stop and remind myself "when it rains, it stops" sometimes I have to say it over and over. Sometimes I have to yell it. :) Sometimes I have to fall to my knees and pray for it to stop. I know you don't know me DF, but I feel like I know you. I have followed your blog now for a couple years. I have laughed and cried and copied and sighed along with you now. I too will pray for your cute family and I too know that the rain will eventually stop. ;)

Suzy J said...

sorry! I said Noah flooded the earth!!! I meant God didn't flood the earth with Noah. Poor Noah. :) It's hard to type when you are all teary eyed!

Aiketa said...

(Ok... now I get what you were saying on the other post...)
I'll be thinking of Owen and hoping he gets better every day, even though he is no longer at the hospital (which is such an improvement!). I will keep all your family in my thoughts!