Valentine's Day

Hi all, it's Arran from the PDA Worship team. I asked Mo if it was okay if I wrote a blog to share this with you. The Lord has really laid it on my heart to write about the experience I had over Valentines day. We think of Valentine's day today as the typical hallmark-inspired, buy-something-at-Zales, take-your-girl-out-to-dinner type of holiday. The events of the past few days have really given me insight on the overflowing and immeasurable countenance of God's love.

Last Thursday my little sister gave birth to a beautiful, healthy boy named Jack. All seemed to be picture perfect, but a little while afterwards, my sister noticed that she was still bleeding quite a lot. She pressed the nurse call button for assistance, but by the time the nurses arrived, she had already lost consciousness from blood loss.

They had to perform emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. They put over 10 units of blood from doners back into her, which is very sobering because we only hold 8 on average. That means she was losing blood while they were giving it to her. Thank God that she is okay now, however due to the surgery she can no longer bear children.

Speaking to my sister that weekend during Valentines day was, for lack of a better word, faith-affirming. She told me that she had prayed to God about this moment days before, how after this child God laid it on her heart to start adopting children, and even laid it on her heart to wonder what her blood type was! She knows that God prepared her for the ordeal she would go through and she is stronger for it. God was with her in every moment. There are so many allegories to the Love of God in her story. In the same way that the blood of Christ saves us, the only reason my sister is alive right now is by the blood given freely of another. None of her own blood is running through her veins. I can only sum up this post with a post from my sister's own blog:

Throughout the whole night, I felt the presence of God and the blanket of your prayers so clearly. There came a time when I understood the seriousness of my situation, but all I could feel was peace. I knew my life was in God’s hands and He would do as He saw fit. I know that peace was encouraged by the prayers you prayed, and I want to thank you.

Dave and I are simply overwhelmed by the support and care that everyone has shown. I cannot imagine going through this ordeal without such wonderful friends and family. We love you and are SO appreciative of every bit of help you have offered and prayer you have lifted up.

“...The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21

God has taken such a small thing to bring us such a great blessing!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!