Just so we know what we are praying for…

John Asher has actually had a pretty good day. I arrived early this morning to big smiles, lots of laughs and giggles. He took a short nap (too short) and woke up a little grumpy. I think he is hungry so they are ordering room service, i.e. a feeding tube. They want to get his gut working again. So the feeding tube will allow for continuous feeds to see if he can pass it through his system appropriately while at the same time try to teach him how to take his bottles and get it going down the right tube so he won't aspirate. They tried to give him a bottle this morning, but he either didn't like the bottle nipple or didn't like what was in it (which is mommy's theory) so he wouldn't take much. The speech therapist (Mary Lynn, I was totally thinking about you when she came in) said that she was going to need to work on his swallowing techniques. She helped him along a little, but he still wasn't going to take what was in that bottle! He also saw the physical and occupational therapist today. Together they are all working towards the same goal: HOME!

His heart rhythm is still irregular; this happens approx. 10 – 15 times in an hour. We need his heart to regulate itself. His heart rate is looking pretty good. All in all, I think he is doing much better and looks much better.

I was reading in my Bible this morning in the book of John, chapter 5 where Jesus was at the pool at Bethesda, a place where the ill and invalid came in hopes of being healed by the waters. Jesus spoke to a man who for thirty eight years had a disability that caused him to look for a miracle. Jesus asked him, "Do you want to be healed" and the sick man responded to Jesus in a way that makes me believe he thought his healing was impossible because he says "I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." Then Jesus said "Get up, take up your bed and walk". And at once the man was healed…

I believe that John Asher can be healed immediately; just the same way the man who was lame was healed. I believe that God still performs miracles every day and he will heal John Asher. And while I believe God everyday for a miraculous healing, I also know that sometimes God allows us to suffer for his glory and that through this suffering, others may come to know Him, to know Jesus Christ, the one who offers us eternal salvation. Do I wish God would heal my son right now? Of course I do. But I also understand that his purpose in all this is far greater than my earthly mind could ever envision.

So what are we praying for?

1. That God would heal our son so miraculously that the only explanation could be God
2. That if he chooses not to heal John Asher immediately but rather over time (preferably a short amt of time), that we can be a witness for the Lord, which we can show the love of Jesus through our love for our son, our patience with the staff and that the light of Jesus will shine through us.
3. That John Asher's gut will tolerate his feeds and he will pass them through his system with no problems.
4. That he will begin to take a bottle again and not aspirate.
5. That his heart rhythm will become regular and they can begin to wean him off his meds
6. And mom's personal goal: for John Asher to be home before Mother's Day! We would love to have him dedicated to the Lord on Mother's Day Sunday at our church! What a blessing that would be!