Making it through #Quarantine
Hi guys,
I was just pondering on some of the things God has done for me over the course of my life, especially with all that’s happening with this COVID 19 pandemic. So I began walking down memory lane, and was able to re-cherish his goodness. I was able to remember all of the beauty that was birth out of my hard times.
I know we can all relate to times when we felt that there was no resolve to our situations. I’ve often found myself overwhelmed and shaken by things that I had absolutely NO control over. Even as Christians, there will be times in our lives where things take an abrupt turn, seemingly, for the worst.
One incident that specifically comes to the forefront of my mind is my experience while carrying my second child. When I found out I was pregnant, my husband and I were elated, especially when we found out we were having a boy. I was working in a salon, building my clientele, and had been recently offered a promotion that required me to travel.I felt like I was on top of the world!
Shortly after, I was sent on my first trip to Dallas, Texas. By now, you guys know me: I was smiling and grinning from ear to ear with a bounce in my step! I hopped off my plane ready to get moving, and my first mission was to pick up my rental car.
I grabbed my keys from the car dealer, and when I opened the car door to put my luggage in, I was abruptly shaken out of my glorious haze by an overwhelming stench of gasoline. When I mentioned the smell to the car dealer, he assured me that all was well, and that there was nothing to worry about, so I proceeded to head to my hotel to get some rest. Looking back, all I can do is facepalm my forehead and think, “Silly me”.
I drove in that car for nearly an hour, and the more I drove, the more the smell intensified. It was so bad that I had to drive with the windows totally down to breathe. By the time I made it to the hotel, I was light headed, a bit disoriented, with a pounding headache. I mustered up the little strength I had and contacted the car dealer, and shortly after, they sent someone to come check out the car. When the mechanics opened the car door, they could barely leave the door open for more than a few seconds.
“I can’t believe you’re still able to stand. This is ridiculous! How were you able to breathe this whole time?” said one of the employees.
Bless my little heart.
It wasn’t long before they traded the car out, and I was able to finish my job and head back to Houston.
The following morning, while preparing for my first client, I noticed that something was seriously wrong with my body. The next thing I knew, I was being rushed to the hospital. Now, remember, I was pregnant riding in that car.
I remember lying in the hospital bed when the doctor came in and said, “Mrs. Bush, you are threatening a miscarriage. I am putting you on bedrest for the next seven months. There is a pool of blood behind the uterine wall, and we don’t know what’s causing it. The baby looks fine, but unfortunately…you are not.” If I ever wondered what it felt like for someone’s heart to drop and time to stop, I found out the very moment those words left my doctor’s lips.
My diagnosis: Uterine Rupture
A uterine rupture is a tear in the uterus, more specifically the Myometrium wall, that causes the contents of the uterus to spill into the peritoneal cavity or the broad ligament.
A rushing wave of devastation washed over me as I learned more of my diagnosis. To make matters worse, there was nothing I could physically do to change my anatomy. I wept profusely, and all that ran through my mind was the amount of time I spent inhaling all of those deadly fumes in that rental car.
The next few months were filled with doctor visit after doctor visit, consistently hearing the same report:
“You will not make it to full term with this child, Mrs. Bush.”
“There is still blood pooling behind the uterine wall, and there’s also a tear.”
“You must remain on bedrest for the duration of this pregnancy.”
I prayed and I cried, and desperately pleaded with God, “Please Lord, you have to move for me! I know you gave me my son! I don’t believe the doctor’s report!”
I went back to the doctor, and they did an ultrasound, and once more, the doctors saw the same thing. They shook their heads, and said, “Any day, you could lose him. Please remain on bedrest, and take it easy.”
I went home, and prayed again, speaking the same words, declaring that all will be well with myself and my son, although nothing had changed. There were many days that I expected to lose my son. I was stressed out, and overwhelmed with doubt at times. When things like this transpire in our lives, we have to remember to keep our minds stayed on God, for he will keep us in perfect peace.
Isaiah 26:3 New King James Version (NKJV)
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
When thoughts are coming to our minds, reminding us of the negative reality of our situations, this will increase doubt. That’s normal. However, if we shift our focus to magnify God, this makes God BIGGER than our problems. If we reflect on what God is capable of, and who we belong to, we then begin to see that God’s got this.
With this in mind, I went and bought some oil, and prayed over my child daily. I declared life over my son, and I put him in the hands of the Lord.
I remember going to my last doctor’s visit, and the saaaame doctor that assured me that I would not make it to full term, changed her tune.
“Who would have thought that we would be standing here today, Mrs. Bush. Your little one is doing just fine although you are still experiencing internal complications.”
I smiled, but inside I was saying, “I would have thought” because I knew I spent countless amounts of time praying and believing God for healing and a successful pregnancy.
About a week later, I gave birth to a healthy, baby boy. Ethan will be ten years old in two weeks! He is a fun, loving, charming, charismatic kid that loves God. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be his mother! I like to tell him this story, and reflect on it during times our faith may be shaken. God constantly reminds us that no matter what we go through, he’s got this.
I wanted to share this testimony to share with you that God is still able to keep us even in uncertain times. He’s our HELP in time of need. This quarantine has shaken the FAITH of many of us. I’m hopeful that this testimony will encourage you to hold on and look to him to bring you through!
Have you ever experienced a time where you had a situation that was out of control? What did you do to get through it?
Drop me a line!
