|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "The Great Physician Now Is Near"1 (Lyrics) |
Looking out my living room window, I saw a beautiful landscape. The lake was covered with a white blanket of snow and the trees laden with soft, fluffy snowflakes.
But the scene quickly changed as I reminded myself that I needed to go outside and shovel a pathway from the garage so that my husband could lug the garbage containers to the end of the driveway for pickup. As I got ready, my husband started to dress himself and told me that he was going to pick up the snow with the big scoop, pull it away, and drop the white stuff where it was not in the way.
I couldn't believe the amount of snow that had fallen. Even though we get someone to plow our driveway, the distance from the garage to the driveway is about twenty feet, and snow that had accumulated to a depth of approximately three feet is a lot! I started to shovel from the garage door, whereas my husband started to pick up snow from the other end, and at one point, we expected to meet in the middle. I noticed that he was beginning to look a bit tired, so I told him that we needed to stop, go inside, and have a nice cup of tea. No sooner had I said this than he fell.
I dropped my shovel and waded through knee-deep snow to reach him. He has problems with his knees and just couldn't get up. He finally did get up on one knee, and holding on to the side of the snowbank, he tried again. But because he was tired and weak, he couldn't get up. I was starting to panic. I ran to get my shovel for him to use as a sort of cane, but that didn't work either. I told my husband that I would have to call 911. Of course, he told me a firm, "No."
Still on his knee, I placed the shovel in front of him and told him to hold on, while I tried to lift him by placing my left arm under his right underarm. I said a quick, "Lord, I need your help," and started to pull. It worked. He was a bit wobbly, but he was standing. He fell again going up the stairs to our front door, but was able to pull himself up with the aid of the handrail and me.
This entire incident reminded me of the many times that I have fallen — whether it be talking behind someone's back, telling a little "white lie", or keeping silent when I was supposed to speak out or stand up for someone.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
My friends, God is able to make us stand again, once we acknowledge what we have done, repent, and ask for forgiveness.
Prayer: Lord God, we don't understand how You can hear our individual cries for help, but Your Word tells us that You do. Lord, help us in our time of need. Instill in us a desire to know You better and to set aside time with You alone, and grant us the strength to accept what is. Forgive us when we fall, and help us to stand again. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Friday, September 22, 2023 – In Canada and America — Give thanks that many of our churches can offer hospitality to outside groups for their meetings. As these groups and people come into our buildings, pray that they may come to experience Jesus in their midst, and seek the peace of Christ.
Broken friendship-CB: "September 21,2023. Please pray for the restoration of a lifelong friendship. Their friendship has..." 
Please pray for Shawn: "September 21, 2023. Shawn has struggled to breathe for many years and is in the hospital again..." 
Mrs--a former devotional writer: "September 21,2023. I humbly request healing prayers, I am having some very serious health problems..." 
Good one Rosy!
Thanks for the good word, Rosemary.
Take care Rosemary. Think spring.
God Bless.
Thanks for the reminder of how easy it is to fall both physically and spiritually and how God is always there to help us when we ask. Blessings.
Rosemary,
I pray for you and your husband and all those who deal with such issues. Blessings,
(CA)
Great devotional, Rosemary. A very human story. I hope your husband is OK (and you too!) after that ordeal.
Blessings.
OMG-oodness, Rosy. I can imagine the effort this took. Thank goodness for God and His strength and mercy.
Take good care of yourself.
So true.
Had not corrected what someone said by keeping silent.
The awful feeling went away only after I confessed to the Lord and asked for forgiveness did peace returned to my being.
Hi Rosemary
I hope your husband didn’t have any ill effects from his fall. Thank the Good Lord you were with him.
Thank you for wonderful analogy. It is so very true too.
God bless you and keep you both safe this winter.
Hello Rosemary! Another lovely devotional today. Thanks for sharing your experience and do take care when dealing with winter weather. I don’t have to shovel snow anymore, I live in a Residence!! Quite a nice change!
Blessings on your day today.
(Ontario)
Odd that you would write about this. I slide off the bed last week, it took me an hour and a half to get back up as my bedroom is small and lacks things to hold on to.
I have a lot of arthritis and bad knees. I just kept praying and felt assured that I could do it.
I was amazed that I did not hurt all over the next day.
I am convinced I was protected, somehow.
As indeed, you and your husband, were.
Dear Rosemary,
Hello from the east coast of Vancouver Island! I read your devotional this morning and, as usual, your words were very meaningful to me. I’m thankful God gives you His wisdom and the gift of writing, so you may speak His truth into this world.
But for some reason only God knows I felt called to pray for you right now. I understand from reading your past Devotional’s you have a caring, servant’s heart and I wanted you to know that you are on my mind and in my petitions. I pray God’s peace and comfort on you as you minister to those around you. That God would give you supernatural strength when you need it and rest when you’re weary. May you be given both words and silence as God calls you to serve with obedience.
Isn’t it wonderful that we have a loving Father who directs and protects us. May you be blessed today!
Dear Rosemary,
My big help is a walker. I have one that has two skids in front and two wheels behind.
It gives me great security. To use a walker when walking, and to keep a walker nearby whenever there is danger of falling is so good.
I’m glad your husband was not injured when he fell.
I broke a hip six years ago when I fell. I do not need to use the walker in my house but it stays in my car and I go without it rarely beyond my car.
Thank you for your devotional.
I ask God for power to keep you (and me) from lies –as well as confessing them.
Keep writing.
I am so glad you both got back to the house ok!
As we age, it seems more difficult to maneuver in snowdrifts!