I Thought I Had A Stroke!

May 21, 2020

I Thought I Had A Stroke!

I lost my ability to drink from a glass last week.  When I took my first drink each morning, the water would run down my arm and down the front of my shirt. 

The first couple of times, I thought the water was pouring out of the glass because I was drinking too fast.  However, even when I slowed down I could still not drink from a glass without the water running down my chin. 

After the third day or so, I wondered if I had experienced a light stroke or something.  I felt fine but it was troubling why I had lost the ability to drink water out of a glass. 

As each day passed, I was becoming more and more concerned.  It was obvious that I had lost control of a pretty basic life skill; drinking from a glass! 

As I paid more attention to my new malady, I noticed my inability to drink from a glass only happened in the early morning.  That was somewhat comforting; I could just wrap a towel around myself when I took a drink! 

But, my momentary relief quickly faded.  I remembered that other than first thing in the morning, I normally drink through a straw.  So, I shifted my focus to the glass I use each morning.  There it was; a beautiful red solo cup sitting next to the bathroom sink.

I had just returned from a walk with my wife, so I reached for the glass to take a drink.  As I picked it up, I heard an almost imperceptible little popping sound.  I looked more closely and noticed a small crack about half way up one side of the glass. 

I was so relieved!  I had not lost the ability to drink from a glass and I had not experienced a stroke.  All I needed was a new glass.  My heart was singing a new song!

Sometimes it is easy to assume the worst about our health, about our circumstances, and even about other people. 

When something is too different, our hope can grow small.  When someone is too difficult, our love can shrink.  When darkness is too drawn-out, our joy can slip away.  When despair is too deep, our courage can evaporate.

Our faith in the presence and provision of the Lord God allows us to persevere with the confidence that we will be delivered.  Trusting in the goodness and generosity of the Lord God also gives us perspective.  It is not always a “stroke” that is making things difficult; sometimes it is a little crack in a plastic glass!

I like the perspective of the Psalmist.  When he was tired of waiting, when he felt all alone, when he was no longer sure he could keep going on, he calls out to the Lord God.  And then, the Lord God shows up!

In Psalm 40:1-3 we hear; “I patiently waited, Lord, for you to hear my prayer.  You listened and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire.  You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm, and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you.”

Sometimes the different thing, the difficult person, or the disappointing circumstance can shift our perspective and our attitude in a way that is not healthy or helpful or holy.  Even then, there is hope!  When we ask Jesus to help us and then trust Jesus will help us, there will be rescue, deliverance, and liberation. 

The good news is your heart can sing again.  When we trust Jesus, Jesus will put a new song in our heart; a song of joy, a song of praise, a song of delight!

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug