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Friday, July 29, 2011

Life Lessons


I had an unfortunate encounter with a wasp the other day and he won. Started out innocently enough, I was bringing the dog in and on my way back to the house I spotted one of my mandevilla shooting out a tendril that was starting to wrap around a baluster on my deck. I was untangling the plant when, OUCH, it felt like I had been shocked. I quickly realized it was a wasp, he had been hiding under the hand rail. He did his deed then flew away.

Couldn't remember what you were supposed to do, husband checked WebMD, treatment for wasps and hornets. The advice was to dab the area with an acid based solution, like vinegar or lemon juice. Next apply ice or cold compress. I had a little swelling the next day, but not too bad, so I figured I was good. When I woke up yesterday morning my hand was beginning to look a little like the gloved hand of Mickey Mouse. (not good)

Decided to make a quick run to the doctor, this is the arm that had an axillary node removed, were we looking at the start of lymphadema or local reaction to the toxin of wasp sting? Doctor wasn't sure why the delayed swelling but gave me a script for steroids and instructions to ice, elevate and try some benadryl,  if not better in the morning start taking the steroids.

Good news, the hand is better, I can once again see the tendons (and I didn't have to start the steroids)

The thing that I was considering tonight was during all of this, we went to the web for advice, went to the doctor to have it checked out, all good things, but never went to the Lord. Never prayed for wisdom, for care or healing. Do we have to wait for things to be desperate before we start praying? Shouldn't praying be as natural as breathing. Shouldn't that have been my first response.

He continues to be faithful even when I am not, avaliable even when I am distracted. 

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness  Lamentations 3:22-23

9 comments:

Petra said...

Very good post and point well made. Glad your hand is better. You're right, it feels like being shocked. Thank you for stopping by my new blog. "It is Well With My Soul" is also my favorite! Good to meet you!

Trisha said...

Maryann,
I'm so glad you're ok!! Yes, it is a work of God's grace that we pray without ceasing and immediately turn to Him. That's one of my prayers for my children....that they won't spend years like I did trying to do it on their own first.

Hugs to you, and I hope you have a wasp-free weekend, my friend. :)

Debbie said...

I'm glad your are going to be fine, and this post niggles me greatly because I'm very guilty of that same timing too often.

camp and cottage living said...

Great post. It's always our independant nature to want to fix things ourselves, as if we would be bothering the Lord to ask for his help.
But how many times have I myself said to my children "Why didn't you call me first?'
I try to remember that the Lord is my father and want to be treated like one.

Anonymous said...

Ouch! So glad that you got it looked at and treated. I am so glad that God knows our hearts. He reminds us again and again to seek Him. When we get distracted, He reminds us He is near. What an amazing God we serve!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

So glad you are better...we had a wasp bite on my son the other day.

Your point is very good...how easy it is to look to man's wisdom first then turn to the Lord only when it doesn't work.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

I also got a bite of some kind on the ankle in my garden a few eeks ago. It made my whole ankle and foot swell up. It did go away, but always reminds me of how many more times God protects me when I never even know it!

Happy Sunday!

Farm Girl said...

I am glad that you are okay now. I can't imagine why you had such a delayed reaction. I hate wasp stings more than anything.
I am glad you were able to use this as a way to remember to ask God first for wisdom. I always wish I had done that first too.

I hope it never happens again, but if you take a bit of meat tenderizer
and make a paste of it and put it on the bite it will help it. Also rubbing it with Aloe Vera.
I know it is different because of your surgeries so things might react differently, but those are the things that worked when I was a bee keeper.
My husband had severe allergic reactions to stings.
The tenderizer will draw out the poison.
I am glad you are on the mend.

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

So glad that you are doing ok. I love your pictures ... the flowers, the hostas, the beach.

I can definitely relate to your post today ... how easy it is for me to seek wisdom or healing from earthly sources instead of our heavenly Father.

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend ... from your new follower, Kathy