Monday, September 20, 2010

I'VE FALLEN...BUT I WILL GET UP!

OK, one of life’s funny moments…(funny, ironic – not funny, HA HA)

A week ago Friday, exactly one week after my mom fell, I FELL!

Oh yes, it was a doozy, too.

My sister, her friend, and I were going to the Honda Center in Anaheim (where the Ducks play, for any hockey fans out there) for the Women of Faith two-day conference. We arrived early…8:30 AM…OK, early for me, a known “night owl.”

We parked our car in the lot and joined several thousand women converging on the building (this is no exaggeration – I think attendance was around 9,000 women on Friday).

The “powers that be” came up with a brilliant plan for keeping the traffic under control. They had marked out “lanes” for the cars going into the parking lot using red traffic cones. So, when the parking dictator blew his little whistle, he looked over at the HUGE throng of women waiting to cross the crosswalk, including our little group, and waved us on.

Like a group of milk cows returning to the stables at dusk, we started making our way across the street.

“Hurry up, ladies. C’mon, c’mon. We’ve got cars waiting,” squealed whistle man. (Probably a crossing guard in his regular life – and not one of those nice little people who stands and waves ‘hello’ at the cars driving by…)

So, the three of us are chatting away, and HURRYING, across the street.

It might be important to tell you that I was wearing my cute little pair of Sketchers shoes – you know, the ones that Joe Montana recommends – the ones that are supposed to make your legs work extra-hard, and make your “you-know-what” all perky and toned

Well, one second I’m yakking – “Oh, I KNOW…I had the same feeling about her last movie…What was she thinking?!...”

When…SPLAT!

One second I’m blathering away, the next I’m flat on the ground – glasses scratched, earrings flying off (clip-ons), jeans torn, tote thrown two feet ahead of me – STUNNED!

It was the weirdest feeling – like my brain’s computer froze – like I needed to reboot it after an electrical outage.

All I knew was that I was on the street…and I was HURT!

My sister said, “Oh my gosh, Sharon! Are you all right?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Can you get up?”

“Not yet.”

When they finally got me over to the curb, I took a body inventory:

Face scratched when I hit the street, a couple of tender spots - but no cuts: (good - no stitches)
No broken nose, no broken teeth: (good - no emergency $$$ trip to the dentist)
No dislocated fingers: (good - I don't have to pass out)
One giant “goose-egg” on my shoulder: (good - nothing broken there)
One large scrape on my forearm, and several on the knuckles of one hand: (good - have to come up with a good backstory - rollerblading, skateboarding, rock climbing...)

So far, so good…

Except when I went down, I fell HARD on my left knee. It was scraped, and quite swollen. Oh man, I thought, what am I gonna do?

Then the COOLEST thing happened. A women rushed over to me – a total stranger. She kneeled down next to me, and said, “I would like to pray for you.”

“I’d really like that,” I replied.

And then this kind, precious Christian woman prayed over me – asking God to bless my time at the conference, saying: “Lord, there is something you want this woman to hear, because Satan tried really hard to keep her from attending today. Bless her, let her hear Your words.

When she was done, we all said, “Amen.” And then with a final squeeze to my knee (the unhurt one), she was on her way. I won’t see that woman until I reach heaven, but she was an angel in that moment.

And when the medic (yes, they sent a “MEDIC” to fix me up!) was done patching me up, I started hobbling into the stadium.

One of the people from the Honda Center said, “Try to stay on solid ground today, ma’am.”

I turned to her, and with a huge smile on my face, replied, “You know, I really love the Lord. And there’s no more solid ground to stand on than Him!”

Cut to the chase – I’m OK.

I attended both days of the conference, and God DID speak to me.

You know, many things “interrupt” our schedules, many times our plans get “messed up" - sometimes we just trip on a red traffic cone!

But what I learned (again) is the truth of what I told that young woman –

God is my Rock. He is the SOLID Rock. On Him, I stand.

And though I sometimes fall, He is there to pick me up.

All weekend long He whispered in my heart, “Trust Me.”



BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

15 comments:

  1. Hi Sharon,

    I'm glad to know that someone immediately rushed to pray for you and that you suffered no serious injury.

    It's good to know that the solid ground on which we stand is none other than Jesus Christ.

    Blessings and peace.

    MTJ

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  2. SO glad you were not seriously hurt...except maybe the pride. (Don't you just hate to fall in front of people. It's so embarrassing. Just sayin'). Thankfully some kind woman had the God given sense to pray for you. Nice to know God is always there to pick us up NO MATTER WHAT! Great post, as usual.

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  3. That's beautiful Sharon. There's a lesson to learn in everything that occurs if we look for it, as you did. The Lord knew you were going to take that fall and had someone already in place to minister to you. Isn't he wonderful?

    If you hadn't fallen, you wouldn't have had that visitation. If you hadn't fallen, your senses might not have been as keenly primed to hear. If you hadn't fallen, you wouldn't have felt God's love in such a unique way that weekend. God allows some things to befall (excuse the pun)us so that he can bless us and be glorified.

    God bless! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. I sounds wrong in a hundred ways to say that I LOVE this post. I mean, here you are sprawled on the ground with the wounded knee, wounded pride (OK... I added that part to the story in my head)
    scratched glasses and *skateboard* injuries and I am giggling a little bit.

    It's your own fault for being such a good story teller.

    Honestly, I do love this post and the way the woman prayed for you and your testimony of solid ground. I'm also glad that you were not hurt more!

    You see a message in everything, and it's MY blessing that you choose to share it.

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  5. sounds like it was a wonderful conference, Sharon, with God telling you to trust him through it. sorry about fall, OUCH!! but what a sweet thing for that woman to think to pray for you (which should be our automatic response in situations like this but usually isn't). I'm glad you were able to attend and enjoy the time with other women worshiping God and learning more about him!

    betty

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  6. Wow! I'm so glad you were OK! And God gave you a powerful testimony, Sharon. Praise the Lord for that woman of God, too--and she was so right, satan probably didn't want you there. Are you going to share anything specific from the conference?
    Blessings, dearie, and Stay on that Solid Ground--I'm Standing With YOU!!
    Wendy

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  7. Sharon - I'm so glad you weren't seriously injured. And such a blessing to have a total stranger come pray for you. Yes, we can stand on that Solid Rock - "all other ground is sinking sand."

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  8. MTJ - Yes, it was quite a testimony to me, and to the others around me, that we Christians look out for one another!! We used to sing a song when I was a kid about building our house on the Rock...I remember these words, "The wise man built his house upon the rock...The rains came down and the floods came up...But the house on the rock stood firm" AMEN!

    Denise - Oh yes, the pride took a blow. I am not a fan of falling in front of people...no sir. BUT, if I'm gonna do it, I'm making sure that there are A LOT of people around (think hundreds), and many more that could pass by me as I sat on the sidewalk for 15 minutes waiting for the MEDIC to show up (think more hundreds). I don't mess around when it comes to embarrassing myself - I do it right!! (I'm just sayin'...) And yes, GOD DOES PICK US UP, NO MATTER WHAT!! YAY :)

    B - Welcome, and thanks for joining me on the journey. God is wonderful, and He did send that precious woman to pray for me. How gracious of Him. You pointed out, and said so eloquently, the reasons God allowed that "fall" to happen. He had a purpose! There is always something to learn - He is always faithful to teach!

    Debbie - Did I mention that they're making a movie about this? It's called, "The Battle at Wounded Knee." The trailer's pretty good. SPOILER ALERT: Satan tried, I fell, I got up...God won! Thanks for the compliment on story-telling. I try to put a humorous twist on things (usually LONG after the fact, though - initial reactions are not quite so pretty!) God is always speaking, and I just do my best to try to listen - even in the small stuff!
    p.s. Pride recovering slowly...outlook, still guarded.

    Betty - Thanks for your kind words. Yes, that woman was a real witness in her quick response to minister in the Lord's name. That spoke volumes to me about always being ready to do the same!

    Wendy - Yes, I'm OK. You know, you bring up a good point. I did learn some awesome stuff at the conference. Already got this week's ideas going, so maybe next week. Thanks for the idea. (I love the "dearie" :) SO GLAD I've got friends like YOU to stand with me!!

    GOD BLESS, friends!

    Keep on walking in His pathways -

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  9. Joan - Thanks! ALL other ground is sinking sand - ALL other ground... I continue to remember that dear woman, a stranger in this life, but I can't wait to see her in Heaven. We must always be ready to "offer a cup of water" to someone in need - in the name of our Savior - to be His arms and feet, and sometimes His voice!

    BLESSINGS~

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  10. Sharon, at least we can commiserate together about our fall. Your story is pretty funny, though, I must admit. I'm sorry your knee swelled up and the medic had to come, but what a wonderful blessing from the Lord to have a stranger pray for you. Just another sister-in- the-Lord.
    My fall occurred coming out of Hubby's cousin's house and it was in the dark of the desert. I went around a car and Hubby took a short cut. He was fine, I lost my balance. While he tried to catch me I was at a peculiar angle so I flopped on the wonderful desert gravel known as a front yard. Fortunately, nothing broke, no bruises, no one saw it happen, and only a few scratches and sore muscles. I thought I'd wind up with whiplash.
    Thanks for checking in on me. My job is still "iffy". Thank you for praying. May know more the end of the week.

    Blessings~and take care,
    Janis

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  11. Janis - Yes, misery loves company, huh?! Glad you're OK, though!! I think the worst part about falling is the mental shock of it. Somehow, we just feel a little bit fragile. That's why it was nice to have a sister-in-the-Lord pray with me - it was a well-needed reminder that GOD holds us tighter than anything that happens to us!! Will keep praying about the job situation. YOU take care, too!

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  12. I could have sworn I posted something, but in coming back I don't see it. Darn "permission words", which you've since posted about that I cannot WAIT to read! Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm thankful for that prayer angel & that, for the most part, you're ok! Hugs hun, Merana

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  13. Literally LAUGHED out loud this morning over your response. Glad I'm home alone.

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  14. Debbie -
    :) Just a little silliness to brighten up the day!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)