Grateful to be Stretched

This is Kent, I was able to pry the computer out of Liz’s sleeping hands, this can only happen early in the morning.  Liz is doing a great job of giving updates on the Josephs status, I wanted to give an update on a more spiritual status.  Talking to a few people they have said that they hope something “good” could come from this experience.  I cannot share all the good and spiritual blessing that have come as a result of this experience but I want to share a couple to help family members and friends know that as hard as this is at a physical level it is a blessing and good at a spiritual level.

Soon after Joe was admitted he received a Priesthood blessing by his Bishop and a friend.  Later that night, that friend came back and gave each of us in the family a Priesthood blessing.  In one of these blessing the phrase “Be still and know that I am God” was spoken.  From the beginning He has been in charge.  We have marveled at the technology and skill of the medical workers that have attended to Joe, and we are grateful for their abilities, but we know that the only reason that Joe is still with us is because God is in charge and he wants him to be here, no one can go without oxygen to the brain as long as Joe likely did and still have brain activity.

Brigham Young once expressed that his greatest fear for the latter-day saints was prosperity that our lives would become comfortable without trials and we would slowly forget God.  Our lives have become relatively easy, and we struggle not to be complacent in our relationship with God.  One of the “Collateral Blessings” of this experience is that our prayers have taken on a new intensity; we have been reminded that God knows and loves each of us, and is mindful of our needs on a very personal level.  We know that Joseph is experiencing and learning on a spiritual level even now in his current condition. 

There have been and I am sure will continue to be many more collateral blessings from this experience.  We are not sure exactly what is in store in the future, but I can say that we are willing to be still and know that He is God.

We are so grateful for Tannie, she has been the greatest blessing in Joe’s life, and in our family.  We marvel that God has packed so much hope and optimism in that tiny body.  We are also grateful for the unity and strength of the entire Stradling family.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers – they are the most powerful medicine.

Kent