This journal entry is written six days before Nelson and his little family move from the rental apartment into the old/new house. Nelson can’t work physically like he used to, but he’s stunned by the many friends who’ve stepped up to help.
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November 8, 2022
Reading the Psalms in the dark kitchen like usual before dawn. Daylight savings was last weekend.
Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. (Psalm 64:1)
I feel the fear of the treatment coming before I even take the pill. I fear the fevers, the vomiting, the whole thing, but I pray that you, Lord would preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
It’s potentially a big day working at the house. I have helpers coming from church, and it’s up to me to keep them stocked with stuff to do. Yesterday, I wasn’t so up for that, and I let it slide a little.
Helpers hit me with a thousand questions about what is the plan. Usually, I’m good at this stuff, and for years I have been, staying up late the night before, going to Home Depot, reserving rental equipment so things go off without a hitch, but I’m not that man right now.
I need your help Lord, to know how to navigate this short season before we move in next week. There have been so many of these, Lord, like the one where I was online applying for insurance, and getting this apartment here. There was the loan process itself, which seemed to take forever. Seasons of work with an end.
I need to work hard during this short little season and for me, that doesn’t mean lifting and working, as much as it means supervising and getting supplies for the work others are helping me do. I pray, Lord, for your help with that.
I pray, Lord, that they can find a solution for the fluid buildup that’s coming back into my lungs. I thought we were over that, but now it’s happening again, and the medical supply company won’t deliver the canisters [bottles]. I pray for a breakthrough there.
Forgive my selfish prayers, Lord. So much all about me and our stuff. I pray for Lars, and Klaus, for Hans, and Linni, for Britt and Weeze. We have quite the family all doing our things. Almost all of us have kids now, but I pray we can maybe get together on Thanksgiving down at Mom’s place.
I pray that you would kindle an increasing love and desire for you in each of their hearts. That we would pray for each other and get closer to you in the process. Maybe this nightmare that’s happening to me is designed to serve that purpose. May it be so then, Lord.
I pray you would take away this searing back pain. I don’t know what brought it on, but please take it away, Lord. You are the healer and for that I need you now more than ever. Thank you for Kevin and Dennis and their offer to help us with the house.
Thank you that we have the house and are able to work on it. What a dream come true. Give me the wisdom to know how to use them. Turned out good today with Kevin. He came and took a pretty good load of stuff away in his trailer. Always lots of stuff to haul away at an old house like this one.
I am so thankful for these church folks. We have about 6 more days to work before we move in, so that’s the deadline. My chemo pills could affect things, but for now, it’s forward march.
I’m thankful for the health. I do have lung fluid building up again, so that’s negative. A catheter to drain it will be reinstalled Friday (today is Tuesday) so that’s a step backwards, but it’s nice to have them willing to do it.
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“A friend loves at all times.” (Proverbs 17:17)
(I’m traveling now but will resume Nelson’s journal entries on March 25.)