Moments Matter

So many of the days of my life have passed without one thought or one word that is remembered. Yet, there are many others that could never be forgotten. I know you have them too.



My transplant checkups are memory makers for me! Each time we travel the three and half hour trip on the same road that we have traveled on so many times before.  There are many familiar faces, so many of the ones we have grown to love. A few tiny pieces of my heart are taken and sent to the lab, and then we are sent to the transplant clinic to wait to for my check up. My last checkup, I saw myself in that moment, when something happened that I was not expecting. I had left my (normal) world at home to again become a transplant patient.  There I was sitting there, just another heart recipient, with all the others in the room. Beside me there was a man and his wife; he was struggling for each breath. Across from me was another man with multiple iv's and medical personnel surrounding him; he looked so weak. A mom and daughter were sitting on the other side of me while she was getting some treatments. In the background was another man singing " I Am Getting Stronger."  They were sitting so close to me that I could not ignore them. I could not look away. It was painful. My soul awakened once again to the pain and suffering of this life, the type of pain and suffering that this Christian girl who loves the Lord has experienced in my life too.

We drove home and the transplant coordinator called to let us know that the biopsy was a 1A (slight rejection but nothing to worry about). Usually, the family celebrates.  We do the happy dance and go out to eat but somehow I couldn't do that this time. Not after what I had seen that day.  It just didn't seem right. That moment, me sitting in the chair at the clinic, was running over and over in my mind. So many suffering, longing to get back to life, as they dream of celebrating, dancing, eating and just being home with the ones they love.

Yet, so many others take each moment, every breath, each meal for granted. Please Lord, never let me forget! How wonderful, how beautiful, how precious a "normal" ordinary day truly is. Life is a gift!

Reflecting back on that day, I pause and remember to be thankful.  Thank you, Jesus, that today I can take a shower, blow dry my own hair, walk up stairs, fry an egg in a pan, kiss my husband good morning, drive my kid's to school, wear high heel shoes (do you know how many muscles it takes to wear high heel shoes!!) and just do all of life's normal daily duties (like laundry, dishes and take out the trash, leave little notes for my kid's, help sort out all sorts of teenage drama, give "mama advice" even when it is unwanted and eyes roll back at me, etc...). When I was so sick and weak I could not do any of those.  I remember so many times my oldest (a 6 grader at the time) would run into a Old Navy alone while I pulled the car up as close as possible, straining in my seat to make sure she was okay as she made a quick purchase for something she wanted.  She learned at way too young an age how to use a debit card. Ha! We are still paying for that and currently trying to retrain her.  Its proving to be an impossible task.

Blessings abound around here. A few things I have learned. Life is a gift and every moment matters. I have also learned that God is awesome no matter what my circumstances. He is always worthy of my praise. His magnificent love for me was settled 2000 years ago when he died in my place so that I can spend eternity with him when I die, if I chose to believe. I remember my husbad reminding me of this right after we received the news that rocked our world.  The doctor, sitting on the edge of my bed and looked me right in the eyes and said, "Mrs. Fuller, you have a very sick heart and in order to live you are going to need a heart transplant." The words my husband spoke to me shortly after seemed to seep deep within my soul. I never doubted God's love for me in the deepest, darkest hours of my soul. Maybe today you need those same words. Chip said, "God settled his love for you 2000 years ago when he willingly died in your place. Never, ever doubt his love."

Romans 5:8 God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Today I choose to love Him back and make moments matter.



Please continue to pray for two friends of ours. Jess Capps who is still waiting on the perfect heart. She remains on the VAD and will stay at Emory until her transplant, Her site is on my sidebar TEAM JESS.  Another prayer request is for Luke Shamblin, the sweetest little eight year old you could ever meet. He was diagnosed with leukemia just a short time ago. He loves Jesus, baseball and his family. He is currently receiving chemo and will have a bone marrow transplant in December.  Please stop by and leave them a note of encouragement.  We know the power of prayer!!  Hope you have a great weekend.  Never forget how much God loves you!! It was settled 2000 years ago.

Psalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear HIM.

PS Luke's site is also on my sidebar. TEAM LUKE.