From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:
“In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me. Johah 2:1-2
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31
I had decided that after my knee replacement, I wasn’t going to share all the lovely details with my friends. I was just going to check out of the world and check back in when all was well.
But my latest adventure was just too much to keep to myself.
The day had finally come: my six-week checkup. At last, I could ask the question that had been whispered in my ear by my husband/wonderful nurse more than once:
“When can I get in the hot tub?”
I was a little nervous when I asked, because I had been assured that the minute my swollen knee hit that hot, swirling water, all would be well. I’d be walking, healed, and ready to take on the world.
The blessed doctor gave the OK, and we scooted home.
I limped to my room, put on my swimsuit, and strutted toward the hot tub. Then reality washed over me. You see, it had only been six weeks, and even though I was doing really great, squatting was not exactly in my repertoire.
But the steaming water was calling me. I could almost feel its warmth and healing powers.
Then the brighter side of my brain remembered that the summer heat had warmed the pool, so I decided I would just ease myself in there instead.
With one push at a time using my arms, and one scoot at a time on my bottom, I was soon floating in heaven. I swam, kicked, floated, and was blissfully happy in the bright sun.
Until I decided it was time to get out.
I knew if I got too tired, it would only make things more difficult. A very adult decision, I thought. I swam to the side and, oops. Surprise, surprise. I couldn’t climb the steps.
Next, I went to the edge, thinking I had it figured out, but I couldn’t pull myself up because I couldn’t rest my knee on the concrete.
That’s when I started to laugh. I mean a real belly laugh.
I thought about my Bible friends who found themselves in storms of their own making.
Remember Jonah, stuck in the belly of the whale because he was running from God?
And then there was my soul mate Peter, who stepped out into the stormy water, just like me jumping into the pool, looking for an instant cure.
God got them out of their self-imposed messes, and I knew He would get me out of mine too.
So I took a breath, made my way back to the steps, sat down on the bottom one, and one by one pushed myself up until I finally reached the edge of the pool and made it out of that baby!
Slowly but surely, I was able to push myself up onto my chair.
Then I lay back, basking in the sun, thanking Peter and Jonah for the faith and courage they gave me as they guided me out of the healing pool.
Pray with me:
Dear Jesus, I just love your healing pool, healing touch and healing heart. You are with us when we get stuck in our own messes. Help us to realize you are the one beside us.
Loving you