|
By Chantale Fournier
BEFORE knowing Christ, I was afraid of church - both the building and
the meaning of it - without knowing it. I was also very defensive
about it. I put aside some friendships because some of my friends
were just too boring for me - in fact, they were too good, too
perfect. At least that's how I was seeing them at the time.
Surgery
In 2000, I became very sick with Crohn's and Colitis. It became
obvious that I would have to go through surgery. In September, I had
the first of three operations; all within 16 months.
The last surgery was supposed to be the most exciting one for me as I
was hoping to have my external bag removed; however, the doctors
couldn't guarantee anything - and said I would have to wait and see
until I woke up from the anesthesia.
I was mentally exhausted, and didn't want to go back into a hospital.
I felt I had lost the previous three years because of my disease; I
also felt I hadn't been a good mother to my children, due to being
sick every time we tried to enjoy an outing. Since I had to go to
Kelowna for the surgery, they lodged me at the Cancer Centre. I met
some great people there, I remember one lady especially.
She said she was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer; but to
her, my disease was much worse, since I was a young mother and had my
whole life in front me. She asked if I would pray with her; not
wanting to hurt her feelings, I said yes. But to be honest, I wasn't
praying - but thinking of everything else I had to do.
|
Was it an angel?
The day of my surgery, I went on my own to register and get all the
preparations done prior to surgery. Minutes before they took me into
the operation room, I started crying - and prayed to God - for the
first time.
I asked him to give me the strength to go through the operation - and
to 'please make it the last one!
'
In exchange, I promised that I would trust him.
I woke up three hours later, no longer attached to the bag. I was
elated.
Sitting at the foot of my bed was my friend, the lady from the Cancer
Centre. It was comforting to see her. She came to visit for the next
three days. Finally, she told me that she had to go back home. I
asked if I could stay in touch; to that, she replied that she would
always be there - and there was no need to exchange phone numbers.
Since I was under heavy medication, I didn't make a case of it - and
said goodbye.
When I left the hospital, I went back to the Cancer Centre and
inquired about her. They had no clue who I was talking about. I
explained to them that I had had lunch with this lady every day prior
to my surgery - and they told me I had been alone all those times.
That's when I realized that this woman must have been sent by God. I
now call her my angel.
Read the second half of Chantale's story next week
June 21/2007
|
Thank you!!
Your story is very touching indeed. Brings us much closer to God. In my heart, I believe that you had an encounter with an angel. God loves us so much and there's no end to what measure He'll use to show that love to us. That's His amazing grace. It's not dependent on our worthiness, but on His abounding grace and tender mercies. It pains Him more to see us suffer because of our stubborn hearts. But He is patient with us, ever waiting at the door of our hearts until we finally open it and let Him in.
God bless you and your family with all the best things in life.