The Lord my Pasture Shall Prepare...

so...this week has been, um, exciting? Yeah sure, let's go with that word.

This past Monday, My grandma Cordova, had a heart attack. No history of heart problems, no family history of heart conditions, just kind of out of the blue. That was scary. She had 2 blocked arteries, one was 98% blocked, the other 99%. The doctor's put in two stints and she was back home by Wednesday. It was a moderate heart attack with Mild damage done, so of course, that was a pretty big deal for the family.

This is the grandma that's been diagnosed with alzheimer's for 6 years, so she's really not in the best shape anyway. Like I said, it was kind of concerning. When the ambulance was called and the paramedics were there, Grandma was saying "I'm coming home Lord! God, I'm coming!" Later she told us that she was mad because God told her to come back, which looking back on it now, was somewhat humorous, especially if you know my crazy grandma, but still kind of caught the family by surprise.

So in the midst of all this the family has had a pretty busy week. Then today came.

My grandma the whole week has been talking about nothing but coming to church today, and the doctors wanted her to be fairly active again anyway, so even though she had just had the attack on Monday, she really wanted to come today. So this morning at the 8 o' clock service, my grandparents came in, and my grandma was a little pale, but the same as she's been.

Then, About 15 seconds into the sermon, she starts clutching her chest.

My mom tried to get her out to the narthex of the church, but she couldn't make it. I went out to call 911. I've never called 911 before.

The paramedics came and took her in the ambulance to the same hospital that she had just come out of Wednesday. Today was kind of intense. I suppose it made for a pretty eventful church service though. She's ok now I guess. Apparently the doctor's are saying that this wasn't necessarily a second heart attack, but more of an episode, whatever that means. God only knows what the future will be like for my grandma. Pray for my grandpa. It's hardest on him and even though he knows that she's eventually going to be in a better place, it still hurts him now to go through this, and he's really exhausted. Pray for peace that only God can give.

While my family (all 17 of us-and that's not even the whole family) were in the ER waiting room, I thought of 2 things:

First, Praise God for my family. Praise God that we don't have to go through this world alone and that there are people here to help us through.

Second, praise God that we only go through this world and that it is most certainly not our home. How amazingly encouraging is it to know that my grandma, as confused and crazy as she is doesn't have to fear her passing, but that she can look forward to it with joy and a longing to go home, to her real home, to be with her Shepherd. I don't know what other hope I would have in a situation like this if I didn't know the Truth. It would be devastating, and yet, since we do know, we can rejoice with her that she'll be in a much better place, where she won't have to suffer anything! What better reminder of God's promise is there? There's a hymn that I don't know the music to, but the lyrics are great:

"The Lord My Pasture Shall Prepare"by Joseph Addison

1. The Lord my pasture shall prepare
And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply
And guard me with a watchful eye;
My noonday walks He shall attend
And all my midnight hours defend.

2. When in the sultry glebe I faint
Or on the thirsty mountain pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wandering steps He leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.

3. Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For Thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid
And guide me through the dreadful shade.