Hi to All,
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
Everyday for the past few months, along with reading the wonderful blog comments to Jessica, I have been reading different inspirational short stories to her to help the time go by and to also help her to focus on something else instead of the constant pain. These stories are simply amazing. They help her to stay focused on the goal ahead and they help her to continue to realize how God truly does have all of us in the "palms of his hands".
Please pray for Jessica today. Since she is finally without fevers and off of antibiotics and only on caspofungin for a candida infection, we tried to move her with the help of the nurses into a reclining chair, albeit for 15-30 minutes at a time. She will be laying down in the chair, as she cannot sit up yet, but at least it is "out of the bed", even if for a little while! This is another "small step" she is trying to take. We will be doing that again today, with the help of ketamine, to help her with the pain and to allow her to be able to stay reclined in the chair for a longer period of time.
I would like to share this one story I read to her yesterday.
ENJOY !, and remember - God does have us all in the "palms of his hands"!:
* My Brother's Hands *
Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood.
Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer's elder children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy.
Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines. They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg.
Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.
When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition.
His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."
All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over,
"No...no...no...no."
Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly,
"No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look, look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother...for me it is too late."
More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.
One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands."
The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one, no one, ever makes it alone!
~ Author Unknown ~
In God's love, today and always,
Sarah Gina (Jessica's Mom)*
***To post a Comment, CLICK on Comments Below***
What a great story you shared both ways! Jessica, I am thrilled to hear that you are beginning a trial of sitting up! That must feel so good emotionally, after so much time has passed. Both stories have brought tears to my eyes! Please keep me posted. I am also so thankful to Go that you are feeling some freedom from infections! A hard battle won!
ReplyDeleteSarah, Kathy read me some of the stories when we were there. They are very good.
It was so good to see you both this past week. How wonderful that we could spend some time together again and in prayer for each other as well!
I have to get ready to go see the doctor this morning but will try to write more later.
Today, I will go see my GP and discuss plans for next month.
So awesome to hear that Jessica gets to sit even for a little while...God is good and will continue to bless Jessica and mom daily with his hands of Love & Strength.... bless you both
ReplyDeleteLove
John, Angela & boys
PS great story that you shared.
Our family is so happy to hear of your faith! that is the most encouraging part of all this. We pray many many more of God's blessings to Jessica and to your family as well.
ReplyDeletePraise God for all the improvements! NO more fevers or antibiotics! Jessica is able to recline in a chair for 15-30 minutes (that is a long time)! Excellent progress! Every step forward is a step closer to the goal! We are so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteI like to think of it as building a brick house. The bricks are small and you have to stack one on top of the other. You have to mix the mortor (ketamine). It does not happen overnight, you have to place one brick at a time, some mortor, a brick, scraping some of the excess mortor. Sometimes you have adjust a brick, cut one in half to fit in its place. But every day the wall gets taller. Sometimes, you take a day off to rest (your hands and back get sore from all the work - pain seems more than usual). Sometimes you need to mix more mortor. Then you resume your work. In time you will get one wall done and then start on another. As you go along, you start to notice, I am getting better at this. You get better at cutting the bricks and positioning them. Your work is starting to go a little quicker. One by one each brick is placed and eventually, over time, the whole house is built.
Jessica, I know you still have some bricks to lay but look at the wall being built before you.
We will keep praying that every day brings small steps forward!
May God continue to bless you and your family on this journey back to health!
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Hi Jessica and Gina,
ReplyDeleteThat is great that Jessica will be getting out of her bed! As you say "small steps." Today reclining in the chair, in time, hopefully she will be sitting up. I pray every day that things are better for you and Jessica.
God bless you both and your family!
Madelon
" When your best friend is God, you're never alone. Every minute of every day, He is by your side, helping you find your way, wanting good things for you.When your best friend is God, you're truly understood. He knows you better than you know yourself - your strengths and weaknesses, all your beautiful possibilities. When your best friend is God,you're loved with a love that can lift you above anything you face in life, a love unlike any other. You can hope without end when your best friend is God."
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful day! Fever Free and out of bed!! K-Bud Devon would say you're getting closer to escaping! I BELIEVE you are too.
ReplyDeleteI like both wonderful stories, but the one about building the wall..is such a wonderful "visual" of progress. And Sarah Gina you are the EYES for us. First in helping Jessica through the darkness for so long, and now for us to see the picture of "God's Hands" helping Jessica along her road to recovery. We all are so blessed to call your family our friends!
Peace be with you dear ones. Can't wait to hear more details tomorrow of Jessica's Journey.
XOXO Nancy
Hi Jessica and Gina,
ReplyDeleteAnother snow day here on LI. I will be shoveling this afternoon and uncovering my car underneath all the snow.
My Mom sent me this prayer and I wanted to share it with you.
Hello God, I called tonight
To talk a little while…
I need a friend who’ll listen
To my anxiety and trial…
You see, I can’t quite make it
Through a day just on my own…
I need your love to guide me,
So I’ll never feel alone.
I want to ask you please to keep,
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they’re bound.
Give me faith, dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can’t change in any way.
I thank you God, for being home.
And listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.
Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.
So thank you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, God, I love You, too.
And I’ll call again tomorrow!
May God bless you both today, tomorrow and all the tomorrows that follow.
Madelon
Hi Gal,
ReplyDeleteSO,SO,SO, great to hear about Jessica's progress!
lOVE THE STORY IT GAVE ME GOOSE BUMPS!!
Hang in there Girls!
Always in PRAYER for you, Jodi
Hi Sarah and Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI don't write a post often BUT please know I am praying for you two. You are always in my heart and my prayers.
I will continue to pray for you and your family at home....for strength, perseverence, comfort and hope.
Your faith is amazing!
God's blessings to you both.
Give everyone hello and hugs for me.
Sharon Spengler
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