Rejoice With Me: One Week Later

Thanks for celebrating with us this last week. It's been fun to hear of "happy dances" breaking out, tears being shed, Tweets and treats being shared, fasts ended, praises lifted, the faith of the young and the old being enlarged, and in it all God receiving large servings of glory. This makes me very happy.

Now that I'm one week into this new era of healing, I thought I'd share some miscellaneous thoughts and experiences with you.

Out of the Spotlight
Last week it struck me, How sweet of God to allow me to share "healing day" with Joanna and only Joanna. So many times we've been prayed for in public--God could have healed me with dozens of praying people gathered around. Often I've envisioned being healed while on the platform preaching…wouldn't that have made a great video? Yet, this whole journey has primarily been for Joanna and I to walk together this last week…mostly in private, only to make brief public appearances. It has been a precious and tender time for our marriage. We shared so many dark hours with just the two of us, it was beautiful to share this healing hour with only her.

Later, Joanna observed that she thought it was great that God gave me this healing touch while we were traveling alone because this way the spotlight was on God alone, and not as much on us. We didn't get in the way of His glory as easily as we would have had we been in a different setting.

Instant Results
As I expected, my body seemed to be eagerly waiting for real food. After eighteen months of canned formula ("corn syrup and chemicals", I affectionately call it), I hadn't gained a pound. The same 140 pounds swam in my clothes month after month, no matter how much of the stuff I poured down my tube.

Some of my first days of eating were spent at the home of one of my sisters who is a great cook. I'm happy to announce that I've now gained five pounds. While at certain times of my life this would have sounded like horrible news, at this stage I celebrate--"a pound a day at Delores'!" Bring on more cheese cake! Add a spoon of sour cream to that Mexican corn and bean soup! Break out more fudge! Life is good!

The Food Channel
Speaking of the specific food I'm consuming, I know that some of you are curious about my ongoing intake.

My efforts to consume food could be better described as nibbling than eating and sipping than drinking, but it's good. On my best days so far, I've been able to consume enough calories to feel like I'm 1/3 of my way to being able to be independent of the feeding tube. Other days--when I don't have hours to work on a bowl of soup--I'm not getting as much down.

Yesterday's worst item: a square of chocolate--it melted nicely in my mouth but for some strange reason wouldn't cooperate. Later, some small chunks of cheese and five crackers made for a nice snack. Today's favorite: fruit juice and blueberry bread pudding with butter sauce…yum.

It's The Simple Pleasures
While being able to swallow small amounts of food has been wonderful, perhaps of even greater relief has been the freedom to swallow my own saliva. While I used to wake up dozens of times in the night to spit, I no longer need to do so. Also, almost completely gone is my embarrassing need to spit in public throughout the day with an omnipresent spit rag in my pocket or hand. This simple fact alone has changed my life significantly in the past week.

Traveling With a Personalized Itinerary
God seems to have me on my own unique journey. I listen to the advice of others who have had problems similar to mine, but I've learned to experiment for myself to see what applies to me and what doesn't. For example, the two things I was warned about the most were liquids and bread. For those with swallowing difficulty, these items are not the ones you are advised to start with. Liquids are trouble because they can too easily get into the lungs and cause pneumonia. Breads are difficult because the doughy nature can be hard to swallow.

Nothing is going down easily for me, but neither of these two "banned substances" have been any more difficult than anything else. In fact, I'm sipping on a glass of juice right now, and it's going down better than most anything else. Meanwhile, I probably have more trouble with some foods than my advisors have.

All this to say: God is writing a new story and hasn't felt the need to include the same elements he included in other stories.

I think there is a key principle to be learned here: We are too prone to compare our story with someone else's. Especially in the arena of healing, we somehow think that because God did it one way for one person that He will do the same for someone else.

I know that there are some who read this blog who have been praying for healing or another significant life situation for as long--or longer!--than I've been praying to swallow. I don't know why God chose to grant me this request before He granted yours. I won't begin to guess why. But, I do know this. Your story is being written under the oversight of a God who is good and can only be good. Keep writing your story with Him…and make it a good one.

Again, I really appreciate that you are traveling this unique journey with me.

Nibblin' and Sippin',
John