Day 51 - August 5 - Faith in the unseen
Joélle and I have arrived back in Fresno after a long day back home. Unfortunately, our long day was nothing like the one Connor and the rest of the family had. Connor had hours and hours of trouble with oxygen saturation and heart rate issues, and it took the the therapists more hours to address it so that he could rest a bit. He spent the evening exhausted and depressed. He fought to keep his ministry to the staff in the right place, but today has taken its toll on him.
One bright note at the end of the day - Connor and Granny were together as the day wound down, and they both saw one of his feet move! It appeared to be a large reflex action, the signal for which doesn't actually go to the brain, but it was movement and Connor reacted with a big grin. We also had his nurse confirm that the boy was sweating before his bath, and a rehab staff member confirmed that it is very rare to see SCI victims sweat below the level of injury. We are confident that this sign is a significant portent of things to come.
Please pray for the boy tonight, that he would safely rest; that he would be refreshed tomorrow for his swallowing evaluation; that God would minister to him and raise his spirits, encouraging him with the right words, thoughts, and people.
One last thing - we also had numerous confirmations today that many, many unbelieving people are watching this blog to see what's happening with the boy. That is really exciting to me, and brings me comfort that our situation has a purpose beyond anything I can imagine. My prayer is that the things I and others write on this website will be used as effective tools to work in the hearts of every one of the folks that read them. Something Cherié tells herself daily - "I am a child of God, and people judge my Father by the actions of His child. Good or bad, I reflect on my Father."
May God be honored by our words and our actions tomorrow, and every day.
posted by Eric Williamson @ 10:26 PM
17 Comments
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17 Comments:
How awesome to see the blessings that are coming as a result of your journey as a family.
Connor you are a mighty witness to so many, please know that God is going to continue to care for you each step of the way!
All God asks is that we serve Him and trust Him, that is after we ask for His forgiveness for our sins and receive salvation through Him.
I am encouraged by your strength and am praying for an easier day tomorrow as well as a good report from your caregivers.
Your are a blessing to so many, please keep looking up to our Heavenly Father!
God bless you and keep you all,
Krista Lewis
What an awesome family you have! You glorify God and are having a profound influence on so many people.
As I head to bed I will say a prayer for Connor's physical and emotional strength and for positive outcomes tomorrow.
I also continue to pray for your family's physical and emotional strength. You care so much about each other and that can be exhausting.
Miracles happen and your family is a miracle in the making!
Thank you for sharing with us!
Sincerely,
Kim
Just wanted to let you know we are still praying for you and thinking of you constantly. In fact, for "some reason" I have been awaking every morning at 4:00. I pray for my sis Cherie because I know mornings are hardest for her and I lay you all at God's feet. I am NOT a morning person, so I know it is God who wakes me to pray at that hour. I feel terribly about not getting back down to see you. I just wanted you to know that I love you and that I am still with you in spirit every day.
Amen, Eric, Amen. Praying tonight and throughout for Connor's tests tomorrow. May God be glorified in that room and may Connor feel the Holy Spirit as he has his evaluation. May God touch Connor, giving a peace and rest that is beyond human understanding. God's light is brighter than any light we see on earth. May it shine in that room tomorrow for all those in there is witness!!! Lifting all of you up to our Father. Goodnight.........
I've always been kind of annoyed by how much I sweat... so I never thought I'd say this - praise God for sweat! Seriously.
Praying!
Lee
HALLELUJAH!!! Every little sign of progress gets me totally amped up and I run to my LORD and shout, "Woohooo!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I can't wait to see what you're going to do next!"
Gooooo God!! Gooooo Connor!!
Praying without ceasing,
Jenann
Being in NC, I often check the blog first thing to catch up on your afternoons and evenings. As I was catching up this morning I felt impressed to pray for the peace that passes all understanding especially for Connor today (who I hope is still sleeping right now and has quite a day ahead of him), and I did. Then I continued to read through the postings and found someone else had posted the same prayer, just a few before this post! What I see is God truly working here, leading His children to rally for each other. Many, many times Scripture and songs come to my mind as I "wrestle" in prayer for Connor and all of you, and then I find one of you, whether family or other readers/posters mentions the same thing. I've walked with God long enough to know there are no such things as coincidences, only the orchestrations and leadings of an all knowing, all loving, all powerful God through His Holy Spirit. May all of you dear family in Christ, experience God's unexplainable peace today.
With love,
Lisa in Durham, NC
(friends of Sherratts)
Praying constantly!!!
Continuing to pray for Connor's full restoration & for strength & endurance for today's test.
"O Lord, you have searched me & You know me. You know when I sit & when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out & my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."
"For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully &
wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Psalms 139:1-3,13-14.
Praising God over His awesome creation of our bodies, ...as He knits Connor back together....sweat!
You are being held up in prayer today. May you have a blessed day.
Thanks be to God, who ALWAYS leads us in TRIUMPHAL procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance* of the knowledge of him.
~2 Corinthians 2:14
*fragrance = inspiration from perspiration!
Thanks to all who prayed for Alan's safe return to Texas on Tues. He arrived on time in spite of the storms surrounding the city. Now about the comments on the blog concerning faith, the way God works, etc. We are all participating in what some call the "great conversation" - Who is God? Who is man? Where is God when I hurt? . . . Praise God he lets us ask questions! He is not intimidated, threatened, or otherwise angered when we are just trying to understand. We would indeed have a pitiful god if he was so easily swayed by our humanness. He is not so swayed and is so worthy of our worship. His desire is for us to seek Him and He will be found.
Cherie, I wish I could sit with you in the hospital today, but will have to be content to pray from Texas.
Nancy in Huntsville
I pray continually for Connor, I have never prayed or thought about someone throughout the day and night as much as I do Connor, I know that the Holy Spirit is alive and there is a healing process going through Connor.
I always remember Connor how he was when I was teaching at WHCC for many years, even when he wasn't in one of my classes. He stood out, not because of his red hair, hee hee, but because he was truly a "Boy of God", he just always impressed me as a "GOOD BOY" and was very curteous as well. Joelle too, she was always very sweet and what a voice! True reflection of how they were brought up by fantastic parents!
I am writing this because I struggle with questioning where God is taking this with Connor? I know HE has a plan and Connor has a part in His Plan for HIS GLORY.
I have friends that are and are not believers whom I have either sent to Connorwatch or I send copies of the blog to, who have commented on what strong FAITH the Williamson family has, and because of that their faith has become stronger. FOR THE GLORY OF GOD! AMEN!
Love you guys,
Mrs. Carolyn, to the Kids at WHCC or "Mrs. Ralph" as some would say.
Praise the Lord for the foot movement and for the sweat! That is so exciting.
I want you to know that for today I'm going to especially be praying for Connor's depression. I know that it is totally to be expected, and I can't imagine him going through all that he has without experienceing it, but as a mother it breaks my heart. I can't imagine how you hurt to see him hurting. I know that if only you could you would trade places with him in an instant.
Love and Prayers,
Charlene
Praying for you all.... all the time.. May the Lord surround you with His peace and His comfort.. May He raise your arms for battle.. We send our love and are trusting God with you and for you..
Love,
Kathy MacPhail
Dear Charlene,
I want you to know that I love you in the Lord. I heard in your post last night how you truly love the Lord, and love the Williamson's, and are praying for them.
I know you felt badly for your post last night. I know how I've felt, when something I've written, may have come across in a way I didn't intend, and felt horrible after also. I can hear in your heart, that you want to do and say the right things.
I did not feel you came across badly last night. It did fire up some good discussions, and maybe that was a good thing. It got us really thinking. And those times do really bring us closer to the Lord, so thank you for that.
We'll all just keep loving and praying for the Williamson's here, and also each other.
Your sister in Christ!
Ann
Ann,
Thank you so much for the encouraging words. Also thanks to the others who have been so gracious. Believe me, it means alot!
Charlene
We are Praising God with you!! Mom was just asking if the spasms have started and I am glad to see they have. This is a good thing for many reasons but two important are, 1. Connor you felt it. 2. It helps promote muscle tone which can help retain muscle. To much tone can be truly annoying but I am praying that you will not have a rough time. On the other hand, they can be helpful.
To be a confirmed sweater means you will be able to cool yourself when hot. PTL!!!
Curious question. Do you have a pet that could be brought up for a few days? I remember, after my accident, all I wanted were my two cats. As soon as I was able to send for them, my whole emotional health changed.
Connor, whatever you can move keep moving. If you feel another muscle wanting to move, move it. Don't be discouraged! When my parents saw me after my accident I could hardly lift my arms to communicate(pointing at) with a letter board. When I was finally released from the hospital, to transfer to Valley Medical (6 weeks later), I was still a rag doll, afraid my head was going to roll of my shoulders. Just do your best! I am so thrilled your family has set this site up, so when you feel discouraged that things are not happening like you want them, there are pictures to tell you different. I know that some days are harder, but remember you are surrounded by witnesses, past, present and future. We love you, though my family has yet to meet yours. We're in this SCI journey together.
Praying for you,
Jessica Runnels
C-6 SCI 2-13-04
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