My "I Love Lucy" afternoon

I'm in awe this am.  You see, yesterday I experienced a mostly laughable series of events, like an episode of "I Love Lucy", except that it included a scalding burn to my left hand. I've had scalding burns a couple of times in my life, and always had redness, blisters, and pain.  But this time it was different and I know it was because Jehovah Rophe, our "God who Heals" heard the prayers for healing of my Journey Lifegroup friends (church cell group) and my husband. 

My "Lucy" episode began when I realized that my husband's dog (a german short hair named Chief, 6 mos. old but as tall as me when he stands on his hind legs) the one that likes to bust through our fence, did his damage again and got out of the yard--I found a huge hole in the fence and him barking his head off in the alley at the neighbor's dog.  It took some strong encouragement, the help of the neighbor boy, and a treat, to get him back in his kennel, but I finally got him back under control--Ken is lucky that his dog still lives....(Ken was out of town). Mission accomplished...for the time being...and the episode continues...

When I got back in the house, I started the coffeemaker and put the tea kettle on the stove to boil water to pre-heat the big thermos for transporting the coffee to church, 30 miles away.  Then I went to get the thermos down from a high shelf over the pantry. (Just imagine dear Lucy now)  As I was pulling it down by it's handle, an insulated container next to it fell off the shelf and in an effort to protect myself, I took my left hand off the thermos. About that time the thermos, which I was holding onto with my right hand by it's top carrying handle, cleared the shelf, and the body of it flopped down and hit me in the right eye and cheek bone.  That hurt!  I put a bag of frozen corn on it and thought I would have a black eye for sure.  But after a little while all was ok, and I finished getting myself ready for our meeting. (I realize Lucy probably would have gotten a black eye!)

When the tea kettle started whistling, I poured the boiling water in the thermos.  I then got our other dog from the yard into his kennel outside, and came back in the house to pour the scalding hot water out of the thermos and the coffee in.  (I can just see Lucy, feeling good about things right about now, just as I was...) 

But that's where the funny part ends...that's when the burn happened.  The pain was more intense than any burn I've ever had.  It seemed like the pain was coming from inside my fingers radiating out.  Initially I ran my hand under cold water for awhile and then wrapped it in a wet paper towel and thought I would be able to endure.  I tried to pour the coffee into the thermos but changed my mind as the pain intensified.  In the process of putting the coffee pot back on the coffeemaker, it hit a cup full of coffee sitting on the counter and spilled it.  (Another Lucy moment, and at this point I was wanting to cry just like Lucy!!)

That's when I decided I better call someone and tell them I would be late getting to lifegroup.  Then my Lucy episode continued while I was trying to hold my left hand under the cool water as I reached across from the sink to the bar for my cell phone which started ringing.  It was Ken, but the connection wasn't working. I fumbled one handed with my cell as I searched my contact numbers. I called Kathe and asked her to let our group know what was going on and helped me come to the decision to go to an urgent care center,

...and she prayed with me,

...and then I called my husband and he prayed, 

and then our lifegroup prayed...

And when I got to the urgent care center 16 miles from home and unwrapped my hand, amazingly it was barely red, and not blistered at all.  Uncovering the fingers made the pain start up again though, strong as ever.  Since I was the only patient there at the time, the nurse and I talked and decided I should get back home, put neosporin ointment on my fingers and keep them wrapped.  (she didn't "admit" me or charge me!) She said to come back today if there were complications.  I continued to have pain until bedtime, when it finally eased up and I slept all night. 

This morning I can hardly tell I was burned.  The skin is barely tender and just a little swollen. But NO redness, NO blisters, and NO burning pain!  

Whether I was having a "Lucy" day, or whether the Lord allowed things to happen for a higher purpose yesterday while I was getting ready to go to Lifegroup, or whether Satan was working overtime to keep me away...in my book, the healing from God had the victory! 

I'm praising the Lord, and so thankful for faithful friends and a husband that were praying for me!  

And I'm thankful that God gave us a sense of humor for times like this...

but especially, I'm thankful that

It's not the trial, but the power of God in the trial, 

that let's us know His love and presence is with us.

God is Good, All the Time, God is Good

and my "I Love Lucy" episode ends just like the TV show, 

but instead of Ricky and Lucy hugging, 

it's God and me!! 

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)