Overflow with Hope

Today marks two solid weeks of driving up to Stony Brook Hospital every day to see our friend Michael.  It was kind of nice, because it was really quite a beautiful day.  I think might be our calm before Winter Storm Jonas hits.

We first met up with Sally and Sarah on Floor 11, where there is a Ronald McDonald House for families to go while they are at the hospital.  There is a nice living room area and dining room and it has showers as well.  We chatted as they finished up lunch and then took the elevator up to Michael’s floor.  His nurse was working on adjusting things when we got there so we sat in their other room waiting for her to finish.

Sally shared that she wasn’t able to watch her normal Bible Study and Sermon shows that morning, so she had gone back and read and written down verses from other days.  I was delighted to see that she had read Romans 15:13 and I’ll tell you why in just a bit.

When his nurse was finished, we slipped in to Michael’s room to say hello.  Since he is still under sedation, he probably technically didn’t hear us, but I kind of like to think that maybe he did.  The great news of the day is that his brain pressure levels were down in a bit lower and more comfortable range.  This was coupled with the fact that his EKG showed that his brain was actually a little more active today.  And I think this is a good thing, because even though it was more active, his levels didn’t go up higher.  So it was another little thing to be thankful for and we were.

I took a quick picture of the crowd that is gathering on Michael’s window.  They are a small representation of the many who are loving Michael and cheering him on in his recovery.  At the end of our visit, we took time to pray over Michael today and thanked God for all that He has done and for all that He will continue to do.

And going back to Romans 15:13.  It was actually a VBS verse that we used a few years ago, so every time I see it, I can hear that song in my head.  And it reminded me of last summer and how Michael was involved in doing the Skit for that year.  Skits are always a fun part of our VBS Kids Program and Michael did a great job keeping the kids entertained and laughing.

It was a Science theme and so each day they did Skits showing scientific principles tied in with Biblical truths.

I’ll be honest.  I’m not a science minded person, so I have no idea what scientific principle would be tied in with using a leaf blower to get toilet paper to shoot into the air.  I do remember that it did look very cool though and the kids absolutely loved it.

I hope and dream of many more summers that Michael can come and serve in our VBS program.  Today was another good day.  And I do know and realize that the road will still be long and that there are still many unknowns.  But I keep resting in hope.  And keep knowing that as Romans 15:13 says, that God is a God of hope.  And that he will fill us with joy and peace when we trust in him.  And when this happens, we then overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So tonight, I’m overflowing with hope for our friend Michael.  And I’ll keep doing this because I truly believe that God will continue to work wonderful things in this young man’s life.