Day 79 - September 2 - Prayer for Eric
This is Brad - I've jumped into Kent's post since I was the first one back to a computer - this is hard to do from an iPhone.
I just got off the phone with Kent. Eric has called requesting prayer for himself and Connor's situation. He is in the midst of real struggles.
As Connor settled in at Valley, issues (of which I do not know the details), evolved that have Eric wrestling with God.
This is a difficult time for Eric and Cherié, completely the opposite from what those of us watching from the outside anticipated. How can you best pray? I wish I had a good answer. I don't know the future. God hasn't granted me any special revelation. And I don't think I have much wisdom to offer in this situation.
I talked it through with Kent a short while ago, wrestling with how we can best help Eric and his family, and this is the best I've got. Nothing more than a sense of the situation, a gut feeling, if you will, an inkling, perhaps, but it's all I've got for you to go on.
Pray for Eric, Cherié, and Connor.
Pray that they would be able to surrender what they think is best, and seek what God would have them accept for the future.
Pray that they would trust God to provide, even when the outcome is different from what they would think they want.
Pray that they would see the hand of God working to sustain Connor and prepare him for the future, not as working against their desires.
Pray that they are still talking to me after this post.
Brad
Michigan
----------------------------------------
Print This Page
posted by Kent C. Williamson @ 4:44 PM
44 Comments
Links to this post
44 Comments:
I'm praying!!!
We're praying!
-nate and christiana
Praying
I'm praying!
-Cindy
No racing please....still praying!
We have no idea what's going on, but God does, and we are praying with all our mights!
Love in Christ!
Kim & Ken
Heavenly Father, please open doors and open the minds of the medical personnel who will be caring for Connor. May they be given wisdom and divine guidance as they work out a program for Connor's full restoration. Father God, grant peace and calm to Eric, Cherie, Joelle and especially, Connor as they transition to Valley Medical. Thank you Lord as the Williamson family receives these graces in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
I was so excited to turn the corner on the court and see the RV, but then I see this post and something must be wrong with my browser because I can not see the entire post... BUT we are all praying as you requested and can not wait to see ALL of you guys! Eric please be safe!
We are praying for peace for your family and fellow believers to be placed around Connor for his care and full restoration! Jann
Holy Father, we lift Connor, his father, his mother, and his sister up to you for your comfort and blessing in whatever this critical situation happens to be. Father, You know every detail, and you alone know the big picture as to where Connor's life is going from here. We pray that You will walk beside this little family and give each of them reassurance in the midst of whatever they are facing.
In Jesus' precious and holy name, Amen
MT
C'ville
It's 7 PM and we've been praying all day. We love all of you, and I will always remember our long hug last night, Cherie, my friend. To get to know you, Eric, Connor and Joelle has been a blessing. You are forever a part of our lives and I wish we were close enough tonight to give you all more hugs... Whatever has happened today, may you be strengthened and upheld in Him.
I've been in those wrestling matches. I will surely be lifting the family up.
Brad,
Thanks for your sincerity and boldness to help your brother even when you don't know exactly what he needs. We are definitely praying for them, as you asked, and also for you and Kent as well.
You are an awesome big brother! If Eric disowns you after your post, you can be my big brother instead! :-)
Laura
Praying for comfort, calm, insight, submission.
The Derendinger Family
I've been following... and praying since the Spirit West Coast team sent the message out right before that weekend.
At either 3:45 or 4:45 today, I REALLY felt compelled to pray, so I did.
To be short, I have traveled a road similiar to yours with my firstborn (but not to this extreme!... if just felt like it) - now 25 - born with 2 heart conditions: a hole (closable on its own) and the mitral valve not functioning (which could only be fixed through surgery).
Her first year was in and out of the hospital, in heart failure many times, near death too often.
They chose to wait until she was 5 for surgery so she wouldn't have to keep having the valve replaced as she grew - it would be too many surgeries during those quick growing years.
At 4 she told us Jesus came into her room and healed her heart. Two months later she had another catherization and the doctor came back and told us he didn't know how, but her valve was healed! But we knew how... and Who!
At five she had open heart surgery to close the hole.
I'm only sharing this because I wanted to reitterate that as a parent, you do not care how old that child is, at this point, they are a CHILD... YOUR child... and the amount of emotions that every little discomfort, every pain, every sorrow, every suffering, every poke, every EVERYTHING that is done to them in the name of helping them, still rips your heart out and it is most difficult to find God at times.
I will NEVER forget when my daughter was 3 and standing too close to the wall heater. When I told her to move away because it could burn her she innocently asked, "burn me like when I was a baby and the doctors burnt me and beat me and spanked me" (hear the little-girl 3 year old voice here).
I had no idea she'd carried these thought around all that time... since we'd openly discussed those times in the hospital.
My point in sharing this is... oh gosh, I don't know, it varies.
To be one with you
To remind you these feelings are all part of the process and I don't know the whys, but we DO know the Truth and the Way and the Life!
To let you know your lives will never be the same... whether God chooses to heal your son entirely or not, you will be changed forever when you see another parent with a sick child. God will use you in more ways, for many years, in ways you can't imagine now. And because of that, remember that Jesus goes before God's throne on YOUR behalves pleading for new mercies for you because HE has been there. In many ways, it's the same principal and He KNOWS this suffering!!!
Lastly, because God has been telling me this all week, "I, The Great I Am, am still on MY throne... I JUST AM!"
"One day at a time, Sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking of you..."
So, hold on, hold strong these next few days, transition is HUGE right now, discomfort is HUMONGOUS, fear feels ENORMOUS...
But HE is on His throne!
In His Name Forever,
Patti
You are such a good big brother and the Williamson family is fortunate to have you in their lives. We will all be praying for their needs.
God Bless-
I drove past Valley Med this evening on my way home, and stopped the car and prayed. I knew Connor was there, somewhere, and I just prayed for him. I don't know you, Williamson family, but I have been following this blog since day 1 and have become much closer to God. I can only pray. I will pray for all of you, whatever it is you're going through.
Hi Family,
Praying for you!
Love,
Praying4TheWilliamsons
San Jose
Wowth--Thanks for leaving that comment Patti. Your story touched me & I'm sure will touch the Williamsons.
Praying in MH
Were praying and will not quit...God is holding you ever so close..Oh My God... Be Big...Overwhelm these precious friends with your almighty presence.. Let us see you at work.. You are the King of Glory..You truly are.. We love you and we are clinging to you..
In your mighty name.. Amen
Love you so very much..
The MacPhail's
We are praying and can only imagine the emotions you must be feeling. We lift you up and will keep praying and watching the blog for news. We love you all and are glad to have you close again. We will wait to hear what we can do for each one of you in these next few weeks.
Myers family
Morgan Hill
Praying....... Heavenly Father, please be with Eric, Cherie and Connor and sustain them through this. Please God comfort them guide them and place your healing hand on their son.
Praying for Connor, the entire Williamson family and for the Rehab staff at Valley Medical Center. In my devotional today, Rev. Billy Graham talks about Hope and quotes Dr. Harold Wolff stating that "hope, like faith and a purpose in life is medicinal." Reverend Graham states further that hope is biologically and psychologically vital to us. "Men and women must have hope and true hope comes only from Christ. He gives us hope for the future as we turn in faith to Him - hope for eternity and hope for right now."
"We wait in hope for the Lord;
He is ou help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord
Even as we put our hope in you."
Psalm 33:20-22.
May the love of God rest with all of you over the coming days as you adjust to new surroundings.
Joan G
Whatever the situation, no matter how dark it seems, our GOD has it all under control.
Our prayers are with you Connor, Eric, Cherie, Joelle and the entire Williamson family.
This is the most difficult place to be... between faith and fear.
May the HOLY SPIRIT comfort you and guide you.
Praying always,
~Shayne Barker, Hollister
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you will shower the Williamson family with your peace this night and that they will each be granted a night of pure and complete rest. Bless and protect Connor tonight as he sleeps. Heal and restore his body Lord and give him the courage, strength and confidence to continue on this difficult journey. May you Lord God, be glorified and honored through this time of trial that this beautiful and faithful family is going through. May they be granted some vision of what the future holds and may they receive renewed hope as they enter each new day. Father God, I lift them up to you and pray on their behalf for a miraculous physical and spiritual restoration for Connor. In your holy name, I pray, Amen.
yes--we are still blanketing you and your family with our prayers...even at this time of the night (it's 2:20 a.m. and I am awake). No matter what the situation today, we know God is here and in control. God bless you all with His peace. Cheryl
Brendan and I pray for you all every day. We will not stop.
You said that you do not know how we should pray for Eric, but God does. He already knows when we pray.
Dear Williamson family, this has been from the start a devestating situation for your entire family. Eric, you and Cherie are the most involved here (up close and personal every day) and you are the ones - certainly along with your daughter, Joelle - whose hearts' have been completely shattered.
Those of us on the outside looking in can only imagine what an accident such as this to one of our beloved children can cause us to question, be angry, and yes mourn the loss of our human ideal future for that child. It takes time to work through all the feelings you must be going through right now.
But, God knows how you feel and He knows that all you want to do right now is turn your back on Him and on the whole situation. The future for Connor has always been in God's perfect plan - even from the day Connor was born.
It's certainly too much for our human minds to grasp, but God's perfect plan will be accomplished. So Eric and Cherie, I hope and pray you will find rest now and new strength to carry on. This is too much for you to carry on your shoulders without God's hand.
I pray that Connor will be strengthened in his new assignment for whatever God has planned for him. And I pray that Eric, Cherie and Joelle will find peace and new strength every day.
In His Love,
MT
C'ville
Please God, show mercy, comfort, and open eyes and ears to your way.
Let them all find their rest in you.
Bonnie/Fresno
During and after a very trying time in my life, I remember people saying to me, "Well, you just do the best you can, always praying and believing," but the truth was that I did NOT do the best I could. I was angry, I lied to my spouse and family, I quit praying and believing much at all. The situation looking from the outside seemed much different than what I was actually experiencing. Somehow, perhaps like the famous "Footsteps in the sand" poster, that whole experience caused my faith to grow in totally unexpected ways, and I never saw it while it was happening, not until a couple of years later. Christians tell one another to stay in touch with God, and to keep the faith, and so on, but perhaps what's more important is that GOD keeps faithful, NO MATTER WHAT WE'RE DOING.
Dear Williamsons,
Praying for you and your circumstances, whatever they may be. When you are tired, rest in the knowledge that we will lift you up before the throne - we are here.
Sandi
Gilroy
Ps. 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust, I will not be afraid.
and of course the wonderful...
Pr. 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding.
I know you've heard these so many times before. But sometimes simplicity is refreshing and really speaks to us.
God has a plan for you all.
Yes, I know you've heard THAT one a thousand times along this journey too. But, the fact of the matter is that he does. He loves you and will take care of you. You also have an enormous community praying for you and supporting you. Friends that can bring you comfort and encouragement and lift you up in prayer daily.
I'm praying for each of you this morning that God's comfort and peace will refresh you today. Also praying that Connor will transition well and that he won't be fearful or be anxious. Also, that he will be oblivious to the stresses of those around him.
Love you all!
Praying harder in Texas! Sending our love!
Praying hard...I also let my family in England know - they also will pray.
Daily Meditation for Wednesday, Sep 3, 2008
************************************************************
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.Isaiah 43:2
There are times when it feels like we will drown in sorrow. The losses threaten to overwhelm us. The intensity of the emotional pain frightens us in times like this. We feel ourselves losing ground as life swirls around us.
This text states with great clarity two central truths which are critical to our survival in times like this. First, God has made a very specific promise to us. God says "I will be with you." This may not always be what we want. We may want God to take the floods of life away. We may want God to build dams upstream in life so that the danger of flood is diminished. But, God's promise is clear. I will be with you.
Secondly, this text says very clearly "When you pass through the waters, they will not sweep over you." God will protect us and see us through. There are times when there just doesn't seem to be any way to make it. Nothing is more painful in these times than to have someone who stands at a distance express optimism about our circumstances in a way that minimizes the struggle. ["Oh, it'll be ok - don't worry."]
Conversely, nothing is more valuable in these times than to have someone with us who sees the danger clearly but who is able to be hopeful for us and protect us and see us through.
For your promise to be with me in the floods of life, God, I give you thanks.
Help me to sense your presence.
For your hopefulness about my circumstances, I give you thanks.
Help me to share in your hope.
You are Life-Preserver to me, God.
Thank you.
Amen.
Copyright 1991 Dale and Juanita Ryan
Dear Williamson family,
I realize that anything we say may sound hollow at this time. Yet, my heart aches so deeply for you. I have experienced times in the past where God seemed to almost mock my best efforts at faith and prayer by His apparent silence. I later knew that my will at the time was not His will. All I can say is that when the "bloody spiritual battle" was all over, I finally realized it was my own perceptions and expectations that were not allowing me to see or submit to His will, yet God was always accomplishing His purposes through the situation. He was always there. I questioned how His love could possibly be manifested through pain and trial. It turned out to be a terrible battle for me to surrender. But when I was finally broken, even though I lacked understanding, God WAS faithful, even though I couldn't see it, perceive it, or even believe it at the time. God is still faithful to each one of you, Williamson family members, whether you can see and feel it or not. Though I do not know you personally, my heart aches for you. I pray God will bring you safely through this grief, heartache and spirit-crushing dark battle. I do trust wholely and completely that God loves you and has not abandoned you, nor will He. I pray He gives you the faith to hold on.
Connor, I pray that God will come to you in a way that you will have complete trust and faith in God's sovereignty and providence to share with your family. It may very well be that God will give you the strength and wisdom to become the spiritual "leader" for your family for a time. For His own reasons, God has placed you at the center of this situation. Accordingly, He may indeed desire to use this time when your physical strength is gone to give you spiritual strength unlike anything your family has yet experienced. I pray you will be able to hear that still small voice and be an even more spiritually powerful example in your family than you have been thus far.
I continue to pray.
God's "will" is that we praise Him, honor Him, worship Him. That is His "will" for us. Like it says in the Lord's prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy 'will' be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." In Heaven, the angels, "praised Him, honored Him, worshiped Him, and sang praises to Him." That's all He wants from us.
Eric, and family, don't give up! That's easy to say, in my shoes. Just remember, it's Satan that is trying to bring you down, fight him, don't let him win this war. Cry out to the Lord for help, and for Him to give you the strength to fight off Satan.
Keep hoping and praying, don't give up! I think the Lord will let you know when it's time to accept things, and know things might not change, and He'll help you through that time. But until then, keep praying, trusting, and don't give up hoping.
We all are praying for the desires of your heart. They are not selfish desires. God WANTS you to come to Him with those requests. He loves you and your family more than anything. He has compassion on you, and knows exactly how you are feeling right now.
He's actually crying with you right now, just like He did when His friend Lazarus in the Bible died, and Christ KNEW He was going to bring him back to life again, but He still had compassion on him and all those around that were crying and falling apart. He actually wept with them.
So He's there with you right now too. And we don't know what He has in store for your family. But just keep praying, and we will do the same.
We love you guys in the Lord!!!
Kim & Ken
God has made promises to us that we can count on, but those promises are the ones revealed to us in His word...that He is good, that He is sovereign, that all things work together for good to those who love Him, and are the called according to His purposes. Beyond the promises of His revealed will (His word), we can't know the details of what He has purposed for our lives... but whatever those things turn out to be, whether they bring sorrow or joy, difficulty or ease, we can always, always know that those precious promises (2 Peter 1:4) He has given us in His word apply in whatever joy or trial He sends. And those promises have one supreme goal in mind: "that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
God has often taken his children down paths they would not choose; I have been down that path (the sudden death of my 23 year old son.) But He is always good; always sovereign; always in control. No matter what He brings our way, whether life or death, peril or famine, prosperity or the sword, that trust in His sovereignty and His goodness is what He is after.
Thanks for requesting this kind of prayer for your brother and his family. I pray that God's grace will be mightily at work in the lives of this precious family.
still praying, even when we don't know exactly what's going on at Valley, my prayers will never stop for Connor and his family.
Katherine Hall
praying
Needed a while to regroup...my heart is aching at the torn state Eric and family is in right now; but I do know that God is still in control; even though we are not.
Rest assured that no matter the circumstance we face over the next few hours, days, weeks...I will hold to my commitment of praying daily, hourly; whatever it takes to insure the family is being lifted in prayer.
I refuse to doubt God's wonderful work that he is doing in this tragic event. I am holding on with a mighty faith that one day this mess will all make perfect sense.
I love you all...and Brad...he won't hate you!
Love,
Evalena
We are praying everyday - but we've increased our petitions!
Kent,
And you're a GREAT brother too! Thanks for trying to convey to us what was going on through your iPod. That can be tough to do, but we got the jest of it, we knew we needed to pray quickly! Thanks for being a great brother too, to Eric and his family.
Kim
Willianson Family,
I remember when I arrived at Valley. I had just had a whirlwind emotionally, challenging day. I had left a private facility, with the best staff, and a family (boyfriend's). The staff and I had become very close. They talked to me like I was a friend and would ask my advice about personal things (BA in Church Leadership). We had began developing a small close nit family. When arriving at Valley, I wanted to quickly return to Ohio and the things I knew and loved. I wanted my life back, realizing how fragile I was, that was the bottom line. My family and I, at times, felt we were stepping back a bit. Valley was county owned not privately. Culture shock is not fun. Mom says its like basic training but it will be okay!!! Valley looked over me and asked the same questions I had been asked time and again at the previous facility. They examined my records and x-rays and set out to have their own.
Valley was the next step in my journey and is Connor's too. Valley's team is amazing! My family and I have developed a bond and a commonality with them. You, Connor, Cherie, and Joelle will too! When an inpatient, I always knew I'd walk again but at that time it wasn't aggreed upon by the staff. Now it's when you are walking. Valley is God's vessel for Connor's next step and yes, step keeps being used.
I personaly knew a C-1 that walked out of there. Ask a therapist about Kevin, (he loved to paint womens toenails)from the spring early summer of 2004.
Once things calm down for you, some of the Runnels' will be popping in to visit. Your crowd of witnesses are watching!
Walking the journey together!
Jessica Runnels
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home