Birchwood Community Church

It’s been an… “interesting” week! Great Church weekend away, into work early Monday then deliver wife Ann to hospital for knee operation on Tuesday. Hated leaving her and walking away. Even worse Tuesday morning when she rang me to say she’d be conscious throughout major surgery. Apparently “you’re crazy” wasn’t the response she wanted to encourage her. Apologies to all who may have worked out that I wasn’t really listening to anything they said to me that day – my thoughts were on Ann – and the surgeons chiselling, sawing and drilling. Even worse when sat outside hospital for visiting only to discover she was still in recovery and things weren’t going so well. Did a recce to see if I could sneak in – but even I couldn’t bluff my way into the Theatre complex. Amazing, they allowed me five minutes with Ann even though visitors are absolutely, strictly, forcefully not allowed. An answer to desperate prayer?

Wednesday – Ann’s condition had amazingly improved but still a 5 day programme to get her up and moving before coming home.

Thursday – still lying in bed pretty sick.

Friday – Brother collapsed and rushed into (a different) hospital. Ann up, completed 5 days of recovery in 8 hours and was home by 6.30pm – a full day earlier than originally anticipated. Brother discharged with warning to ‘take it easy’. And to complete a great day, one of our members came around with a shepherds pie to make sure we got something to eat. On seeing Ann, disappeared, came back an hour later with an even bigger shepherds pie (it was great!).

It’s not been an easy week as you can imagine. Em, Rach and Si have been fantastic and done everything to make sure the family kept going and I’ve also had incredible support from my Church family – thanks guys it means a lot. I know that throughout this week, people have been praying for us – and it really has made a difference. Of course it could have been coincidence that I was allowed into Theatre recovery; that when I prayed for Ann, I saw her heart rate start - and continue - dropping on the monitor; that people all over the country were praying for pain relief and quick recovery and that’s exactly what happened. But I don’t believe it’s coincidence. I believe in a God who says ‘call on me and I will answer you’ – and means it.

Did set me thinking – how do people who are on their own, no family, no Church family, get through a week like I’ve had? How can we get alongside them when they need support? Do they know we’re here for them? If you need some support this week – or even a shepherds pie – we’re here for you.   Phil.