What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust. Psalm 56:3–4 (KJV)
“Mom, what is it?”
Her voice trembled. “I don’t want to upset you, but I think I had a stroke. I’m going to the hospital.”
My siblings and I met at the emergency room. “Oh, look at all of the trouble I’ve caused,” Mom said from her hospital bed. “You all look so worried. I’m all right.” We sat down, crowded in the small examining room.
In moments, a technician wheeled in a large machine. “Just an ultrasound,” she said. “Won’t hurt a bit.” She dimmed the lights and positioned a wand on Mom’s chest. A monitor lit up with beautiful swirling colors. The technician looked at me. “This is your mom’s heart.”
My mom’s heart. I felt my throat tighten the same as it had when I was pregnant and saw the miracles of my sons’ hearts beating for the very first time. The array of colors danced in front of me. Please, God, I prayed, please let Mom be okay.
As the technician froze different phases of her heartbeat and measured arcs of movement, I thought about all of the love that’s come out of that heart—the blessings, the laughter, the thousands of reassurances and kind words, the wisdom and guidance, all the joy she’s given me—and my prayers changed from pleading to thanking. As the amplified thumps of Mom’s heart echoed in the small room, all I could think was Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Heavenly Father, even in the scariest moments, when I focus on love, You take away my fear and replace it with gratitude.
