Coincidence? I think not…...

With today being the 9th anniversary of my mother’s graduation to heaven, I have been reminiscing much about her. Many a morning started off with “This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” As a child facing a school day in the middle of January in Nebraska , I admit I didn’t always feel like rejoicing. But as one matures the understanding of Bible verses becomes meaningful as the fabric of our lives is woven with many personal experiences. Another verse she often told me was “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” Maybe this is why I am always drawn to images of paths. A curve or hill often keeps us from seeing the destination, but I know what my understanding of this verse means to me. There have been many times in my life where something has happened that many would say was “coincidence”. But I know deep in my heart that there was a divine direction happening in spite of my decisions.  There are numerous times I could tell about, but I want to tell you about three events. Many years ago I was experiencing numerous unrelated health issues, and years went by with no diagnosis, yet something was wrong.  I had the appearance of someone on a heavy dose of prednisone. My hair thinned, my skin was thin and bruised easily, and my foot broke just walking in the grocery store. After several years, I was convinced I must be going crazy if doctors were finding nothing wrong yet I looked and felt horrible! Then one Sunday in church, my husband and I were singing a duet for special music. That particular Sunday, a young man who was the age of my younger brother and was in medical school was attending the service. Having not seen me for many years, he recognized the classic symptoms of Cushing Disease. I had an adrenal gland tumor that was spewing excess cortisol into my systems, weakening every cell. He was working with my doctor at the time, and I had an appointment the next day for back pain. He came into the exam room first, and very kindly pointed out all the changes in my appearance, and suggested a blood test to see what my cortisol level was. That one test was the answer to years of health issues. I went to Mayo Clinic where I had surgical removal of the tumorous gland, and after 18 months returned to better health when my atrophied remaining gland started to work again. The tumor was large enough that it could have been malignant, but the timing of the diagnosis had been soon enough. I know it was not coincidence that this young man was in church that day.

A second example is in the adoption of our daughter Vera from Russia. A couple of years earlier, a Russian woman had been given permission from the orphanage director to come into the orphanage weekly and teach Sunday School lessons. Our little Vera listened intently, and one day when prayer was the subject, asked if she could pray for a family. At this time, 1989-1990 there were no international adoptions with Russia. The Russian woman said of course, God hears all our prayers. So the prayers of a little Russian orphan were heard.  Eventually, as things began to open up with US and Russian relations, Holt International Adoption Agency became involved, and Vera was one of the first 3 to be adopted through an agency. In November of 1991 at the age of 11 Vera became a Sullivan. Not a coincidence that the prayers of a little girl was the beginning of a path laid before her for a family and to touch the lives of so many in her occupation as a CNA.

Finally, I would not be alive to be writing this had I not left my cell phone in the bathroom on December 9th, 2013. Coincidence?  I think not.  As I went to another room to get the phone book, I knew I was dying as I broke out in a cold sweat and could not breathe. My vision tunneled as I somehow made it in to the bathroom, threw myself onto the toilet and lay against the wall panting. My cell phone rang, within easy reach. It was my husband, calling to see if I had made a doctor appointment yet. Hearing I was in distress, an ambulance was called and eventually I was diagnosed with double pulmonary embolisms.  My earthly path was not to end that day, and provision was made for that. But I have trust in the Lord that when my last breath is taken, it will be as it is supposed to be.