Big scar

It’s been two weeks since I had my hysterectomy. Thank God for a quick recovery. I stayed in the hospital for three days only and I’ve been up and about in a week’s time. The pain will go away soon but it’s the long scar from my navel down (about 4 inches) that will remain as the visual reminder of this first-ever experience under the knife. Definitely it’s a scar to contend with but I look at it as a stamp of God’s big love too.

It was a major operation but it was also a major opportunity for God to show me He IS God who is in control of everything. Once again, He proved to me He takes care of me.

Big scar.  Big love.  Big God!

I am humbled by His unconditional love. For His glory, I’d like to share with you how God made my operation an amazing show of His love for me.

He placed me in a hospital that’s near our house so it helped a lot for my daughter to work still, man the house and attend to me. She was the only one who can be with me. And I had a big room at a reasonable price. Praise God for the wisdom to choose this hospital.

I was in the good hands of friendly, helpful and gentle doctors: Ob-Gyne Dr. Tet Cambronero, IM Dr. Crispin Ouano, Dr. Matt Tipgos and Anesthesiologist Dr. Yap.  They were with me all the way and made sure I didn’t have a traumatic experience. . Except for Dr. Tipgos who’s a brother in our religious community, I didn’t really know the three doctors prior to this operation. Praise God for choosing them for me.

Twelve hours after the operation, I can move already on my sides.  Were it not for the catheter that had to be stuck in me, I would have already ambulated more. The recovery was so quick my doctor discharged me three days after. Praise God for His healing grace.

When I saw my bill indicating there is P37,000 that I had to personally pay despite the coverage of my son’s insurance, I still thank God because it could have been P120,000 total without the insurance. Praise God for my son’s benefit.

The day after I learned I have to pay P37,000 , the couple who were going to lease my condominium unit surprised me by paying 3 months in advance rent. That was even more than my hospital bill. God didn’t take time to answer my prayer!

Even after the operation, God took care of my needs—big and small. He gave me an Ob-Gyne who gave me info that I can file a partial disability claim in because this was a major operation. I didn’t know this. But when I went to SSS,  I was told only those 45 years old and below can file a claim unless it was a cancer case. But praise God for the office personnel who advised me to file a a sickness notification claim for separated employees instead. (I am a voluntary paying member for 3 years now). Again I didn’t know this. So after 30 minutes, I walked out of the office with an approval for a maximum benefit claim after a month. Praise God for championing my cause.

This week I had to catch up on some bills and since there was no one to do it, I drove out of the house for the first time after two weeks from my operation (I had to move around anyway to hasten my recovery) . When I got to the mobile phone store, I was given the customer ticket #10 which can mean more than an hour of waiting. I felt like going home but a man came out of anywhere and returned his ticket to the guard. It was #3. The guard shoved it to me and 15 minutes I was done with my transaction. Praise God for sparing me from the discomfort of waiting.

I can continue to write more of God’s blessings but this page wouldn’t be enough.   Suffice to say that when I look at the scar on my belly, my heart overflows with joy and gratitude not regret, sadness or disappointment.

Everything happens for a reason. And  this latest event in my life has taught me to be patient and obedient (my doctors said I recovered fast because I was a good patient, following their instructions without complaining),  be trusting ( believing that God will take care of my house, bills, post operation condition, etc.) , be more health conscious (I need to be more stress-free because I discovered through the pre-operation tests that I had a heart condition and my cholesterol level is high) and be more appreciative of my children’s love especially my daughter who was practically my crutch during my pre and post operation periods.

I have a big scar now but it reminds me of God’s faithfulness to His promise to widows like me — “The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow…”  (Psalm 146:9).

You may be going through pains and bearing painful scars. Don’t focus on these but on those times God had saved you and how he’s still taking care of you because you are still alive today! Meaning, you still have a purpose to live.

The heavier the burden, the greater the pain and the bigger the scars we have after —  far bigger is God’s love for us.

Never mind if you have strayed from Him. Come back to His open arms. Let Him embrace you, heal your wounded heart and restore your lost soul. He is a big God with a big love to give all the time.

I am restored back to good health. He wants me to do more things for him. And I say, “Sure, use me Lord. I am yours.”

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