Plastic Surgery Sermon

 

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Ovir e Agir!

 

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Why Comfort Will Ruin Your Life

 

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Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus!

 

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Lidando com Perda

 

George Sosich

Vinte anos atrás, quando eu tinha 37 anos, vivi um período extremamente difícil. Tive insuficiência renal e a única maneira de continuar vivo foi através de diálise. Com cinco filhos, minha esposa e eu temíamos pela minha vida e pelo nosso futuro. Meus familiares e amigos se uniram para nos apoiar durante essa grande dificuldade, e depois de quatro anos com sérios problemas de saúde e diálise, Deus interveio milagrosamente. — Minha preciosa irmã se ofereceu para doar um rim! A cirurgia foi um sucesso, apesar dos desafios relacionados à adaptação de um novo órgão no meu corpo. Minha vida foi salva e minha esposa, filhos, e eu ficamos muito agradecidos e super aliviados.

Mas o sentimento de alívio não durou muito. Pouco tempo depois do período de recuperação, quando minha vida parecia ter readquirido um certo grau de normalidade, minha linda esposa faleceu subitamente de um aneurisma cerebral. Ela tinha apenas 34 anos.  Foi uma perda devastadora. Não fazia sentido logo após a maravilhosa vitória do transplante e a melhora do meu estado de saúde. Meus cinco filhos e eu choramos sua morte, e nossos familiares e amigos choraram conosco.

Insuficiência renal, diálise e posteriormente um transplante foram batalhas gigantescas que exigiram total fé e todas as minhas forças. Mas lidar com a perda inesperada da minha querida esposa e mãe dos meus filhos logo depois de tudo isso foi uma batalha totalmente diferente. Eu não estava preparado para a situação, e basicamente sucumbi emocionalmente. Eu não tive condições de me segurar. Fiquei destruído por dentro e levou bastante tempo para me reerguer. Como então lidei com tudo isso?

Graças a Deus, familiares e amigos vieram em nosso socorro e fizeram todo o possível por nos ajudar. Estar cercado de uma comunidade com tamanho carinho e suporte foi de extrema importância. Cientes de que estávamos sofrendo, eles não hesitaram em correr ao nosso resgate. Deus os abençoe.

Após a morte da minha esposa, eu passei uns seis meses praticamente inerte, absorvendo o consolo e ajuda da família e dos amigos, me adaptando a um novo rim, e cuidando dos meus filhos. Apesar das batalhas interiores, senti que era hora de seguir com a vida, voltar para o Japão e dar continuidade ao meu trabalho missionário. (Fomos para a Austrália, meu país de origem, para o transplante.) Manter-me ocupado com essas atividades ajudou demais o processo de cura. Mas, ainda que meu semblante fosse de coragem, o meu emocional estava péssimo; eu ainda não tinha saído da tormenta.  

Além disso, ainda tinha algumas questões de saúde relacionadas ao transplante, e precisava tomar medicamentos imunossupressores a cada doze horas para evitar rejeição. Fui hospitalizado várias vezes com diferentes problemas e doenças contraídas devido à debilidade do meu sistema imunológico. Toda vez que isso acontecia havia o risco de eu perder meu novo rim. Eu batalhava contra o medo do que aconteceria aos meus filhos se eu perdesse um rim e minha saúde degenerasse novamente. Pior ainda, o que aconteceria com eles se eu também morresse. E, logicamente, eu ainda tinha que ser pai e orientar e ajudar meus filhos nesse processo de luto e medos. Era demais para mim, e cada dia eu me colocava à mercê de Deus.

A atenção e ajuda de outras pessoas era constante, porém limitadas, pois eles não podiam juntar os cacos do meu coração quebrado. Na verdade, eu sentia que as pessoas ao meu redor não entendiam a minha situação. E como poderiam? Nenhum dos meus amigos de 40 e poucos anos tinha perdido a esposa e, ao mesmo tempo, sofrido com uma doença crônica possivelmente fatal. Era um aspecto da batalha que só eu podia lutar lá no fundo do coração, então mergulhei na Palavra de Deus. Eu li passagens revigorantes e reconfortantes na Bíblia e em textos cristãos. Essa leitura me consolou e cimentou a certeza de que minha esposa estava com o nosso querido Senhor, feliz e com saúde lá no céu, e que um dia estaríamos juntos novamente. Outra fonte de consolo foi depositar minha confiança em Deus de que essa tormenta interior inevitavelmente passaria.

A batalha persistia e às vezes perdi totalmente o controle do meu emocional. Eu ficava deitado e chorava descontroladamente por horas, no que foi o período mais sombrio da minha vida. Mas Deus fez um milagre. Cada vez que isso acontecia, passava pela minha mente a imagem de um leito de hospital. O paciente na cama era eu, em estado grave, rodeado pela equipe médica que me observava com compaixão. A minha impressão é que o médico representava o Senhor, e a equipe eram Seus anjos. Sentia que estava fazendo o máximo possível pela minha saúde, mas as “feridas” eram tão profundas que levaria bastante tempo para sararem e eu me recuperar. Mas eles pareciam estar tranquilos quanto à minha condição e confiantes de que eu me recuperaria totalmente. Nem sei como descrever o consolo e a força que essa visão me trouxe toda vez. Depois de horas chorando do fundo da alma, cada vez que tinha essa visão eu conseguia me levantar e encarar a vida de novo. Não sei como, mas o precioso Senhor me reergueu toda vez.

Isto tudo durou uns dois anos. Depois de sete anos de uma batalha ferrenha, veio a luz. Meus filhos e eu nos recuperamos emocionalmente, meu corpo aceitou o rim transplantado, e conheci minha nova esposa e com sua ajuda eu saí do buraco.  Temos uma união muito feliz e duas lindas criancinhas.

Por mais profunda que a dor seja, o Senhor é misericordioso e nos consola e fortalece nos momentos mais difíceis. Eu sei porque vivi isso.

Incluo alguns versículos que nos dão essa certeza e segurança:

O choro pode persistir uma noite, mas de manhã irrompe a alegria.—Salmo 30:5

Bendito seja o Deus e Pai de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, Pai das misericórdias e Deus de toda consolação, que nos consola em todas as nossas tribulações, para que, com a consolação que recebemos de Deus, possamos consolar os que estão passando por tribulações.—2 Coríntios 1:3–4

O Senhor está perto dos que têm o coração quebrantado e salva os de espírito abatido.—Salmo 34:18

Só ele cura os de coração quebrantado e cuida das suas feridas.—Salmo 147:3

Bem-aventurados os que choram, pois serão consolados.—Mateus 5:4

Pedro em Angola escreve, “Já temos o buraco para a construção do tanque de água. Tivemos um pequeno desentendimento com os trabalhadores. Mas vêm outros muito brevemente prosseguir com a obra.”  Benguela, Angola.      

Mais informações: Dennis +0351 915016534 WhatsApp

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Out in the Fields

 

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Seus olhos estão sobre o pardal

 

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His Eye is on the Sparrow!

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,

When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Written by Mrs. C.D. Martin / Music by Charles H. Gabriel (1905)

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Coping with Loss

By George Sosich

Twenty years ago, I went through an extremely difficult period of my life. I experienced kidney failure at 37 years old and had to begin life-preserving dialysis treatment. My wife and I had five children, and we feared for my life and our future. My family and friends rallied to support us through the ordeal and, after four years of poor health and dialysis treatment, God miraculously intervened and sent my precious sister who offered to donate a kidney to me. The operation was successful, and although caring for the new organ presented some challenges, my life was saved and my wife, children, and I felt a tremendous sense of relief and gratitude.

But relief didn’t last long, because shortly after I recovered from the operation and life seemed to have returned to some sense of normalcy, my beautiful wife suddenly passed away from a brain aneurysm. She was just 34. It was a devastating loss and seemed to make no sense at all, coming so quickly after the wonderful victory of my transplant and improved health. My five children and I wept, and our family and friends wept with us.

Going through kidney failure, dialysis, and the eventual transplant seemed to be a monumental battle that took all my faith and strength. But dealing with the unexpected loss of my dear wife and mother of our children soon after was an entirely different battle, one that I was totally unprepared for. I basically lost it emotionally. I didn’t have the wherewithal to keep it together. I was smashed inside, and it took a long time to recover. How did I cope?

Thankfully, family and friends again rallied to support us, and they did everything they possibly could to help my children and me. Having such a loving and caring support community was tremendously helpful. They knew we were hurting and they ran to the rescue without hesitation. God bless them.

For about six months after my wife’s passing, I just sat still, accepting the comfort and help of family and friends, adapting to the new kidney, and caring for my kids. Despite still battling inside, I felt it was time to get on with life and return to Japan to my job and mission work. (We had gone to my native Australia for the transplant operation.) Getting busy with these activities was a big help in the healing process. But even though I was putting on a brave face, I was still emotionally messed up inside. I wasn’t through the storm yet.

Also, I was still struggling health-wise because my body had not yet adapted to my new kidney and I had to take immuno-suppressive drugs every twelve hours to prevent rejection. I was hospitalized several times for various sicknesses and other ailments I picked up because my immune system was suppressed. Each time I was in danger of losing my new kidney. I battled the fear of what would happen to my children if I lost the kidney and my health deteriorated again, or even worse, I too died. And, of course, I had to parent my children and guide them through their grief and fears as well. It was all too much for me, and I flung myself at the mercy of God on a daily basis.

I continued to receive tremendous sympathy and help from others, but there was only so much that they could do. They couldn’t mend my broken heart. Actually, it seemed to me that no one around me really understood what I was going through. How could they? None of my 40-something-year-old peers were experiencing the loss of their spouse on top of having a life-threatening chronic disease at the same time. This was the part of the battle that I could only fight by myself in my innermost being. I immersed myself in God’s Word. I read strengthening and comforting passages from the Bible and Christian writers. From these I was comforted that my wife was happy and healthy in heaven with our dear Lord and that we would all meet her again one day. I also found assurance that if I put my trust in Him, my inner storm would eventually pass.

While the battle continued, there were quite a few times when I completely lost it emotionally and all I could do was lie down and sob uncontrollably for hours. These were the darkest hours of my life. But this is where God met me in a miraculous way. Each time this happened, I saw a vision in my mind of a hospital bed scene. The patient on the bed was me, and I was in a very serious state. I was surrounded by medical staff who were looking on sympathetically. I had the distinct impression that they represented the Lord, who was the doctor, and His angels, who were the nursing staff. I sensed that they were doing all they could for me but that my “wounds” were so bad that it would take a long time for me to heal and be rehabilitated. But they seemed to be completely at peace concerning me and confident that I would recover completely. I cannot begin to describe how much comfort and strength I received from this recurring vision. Each time, after hours of sobbing from the depths of my soul, I was able to get up and face life again. Somehow, each time, our precious Lord pulled me through.

This period went on for about two years, and then, after a total of seven arduous years of struggle, the sun finally came out. My children and I recovered emotionally, my new kidney settled well in my body, and I met my new wife, who helped pull me out of the gutter. We are very happily married with two beautiful young children.

No matter the depths of our sorrow, our Lord mercifully reaches down to comfort and strengthen us in our most desperate time of need. I know this because I experienced it.

Here are some Bible verses that offer such assurance:

Weeping may stay for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.—Psalm 30:5

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.—2 Corinthians 1:3–4

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.—Psalm 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.—Psalm 147:3

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.—Matthew 5:4

https://anchor.tfionline.com/post/coping-loss/

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Swing Low, Sweet Chariot!

Swing (D)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to carry me (A7)home
Swing (D7)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to (A7)carry me (D)home

I (D)looked over Jordan, and (G)what did I (D)see
Coming for to carry me (A7)home
A (D)band of angels (G)coming after (D)me
Coming for to (A7)carry me (D)home

Swing (D)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to carry me (A7)home
Swing (D7)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to (A7)carry me (D)home

If (D)you get there (G)before I (D)do
Coming for to carry me (A7)home
Tell (D7)all my friends I'm (G)coming, (D)too
Coming for to (A7)carry me (D)home

Swing (D)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to carry me (A7)home
Swing (D7)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to (A7)carry me (D)home

I'm (D)sometimes up and (G)sometimes (D)down
Coming for to carry me (A7)home
But (D7)still my soul feels (G)heavenly (D)bound
Coming for to (A7)carry me (D)home

Swing (D)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to carry me (A7)home
Swing (D7)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to (A7)carry me home(D)

The (D)brightest day that (G)I can (D)say
Coming for to carry me (A7)home
When (D7)Jesus washed my (G)sins (D)away
Coming for to (A7)carry me (D)home

Swing (D)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to carry me (A7)home
Swing (D7)low, sweet (G)chariot(D)
Coming for to (A7)carry me (D)home

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