Two days before the new year while my mother-in-law was in the bathroom she had a fall. She was about to turn around when one of her slippers caught on the flooring and she fell. She already had some difficulty with walking lately hence falling had shook her. Thank God we were around when this happened as we usually celebrate Christmas and New Year with my husband's mother and brother. Upon hearing the loud thud my husband rushed to ask his mother whether she's alright. She told us what happened and we could sense she was shaken by the sudden fall. She said she couldn't get up. She was lying on the floor. She had also locked the bathroom door in prior so we couldn't get to her hence my husband thought about calling the fire brigade; but he decided to call his brother instead, who was at work, to discuss the best course of action, while I encouraged my mother in law to stay calm, pray, all will be well and reserve her energy to try to get up and unlock the door. She listened and calmed down and tried to get up but failed. She had an idea that was to gather all her strength to try to reach for the mop nearby whilst lying on the floor and hopefully use it to unlock the tiny latch on top of the door handle. She tried breathlessly many times but failed. My brother-in-law finally arrived from work and decided to break down the bathroom door. While he was trying to break down the door again after getting some tool from the shed (that will certainly cause damage to the bathroom door) somehow my mother-in-law, who was lying on the floor with a mop in her hand while both her hands were still shaking, was able to reach the latch and move it to unlock so that my brother in law got to open the door for her finally without causing damage to the bathroom door. Do bear in my mind that my mother in law is 77 years old and has been walking with a walking stick. To see her emerge unscathed from the fall was in itself a miracle and to be able to witness what she did with just a mop in her hand to unlock the high-up, small latch that require much skill and determination (and even younger and steadier people like us might not be able to successfully achieve what she did) indeed was a double miracle. Praise be to God! It reminded me of Samson in the Bible how with the strength given by God that he was able to use the jaw of a dead and dried up donkey to strike down his enemies. When we admit we can't, God by His grace shows us that, together with us, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
God has been telling me as well and I believe to all of us to leave no room for fear or fearful thoughts when we feel like we are in the dead end or in impossible situation. It has taken me a long time to find time to write this on my blog as I've been very occupied with my two boys. I've also realised it was delayed so I can include the recent testimony of my mother-in-law. I told her she's the female agent 007 with what she had achieved with just a mop. What a miracle! Thank God all is well when we keep trusting in Him even in the deepest valley or the darkest season of our lives. Nothing is impossible with God. So long as He is with us we have no fear.
When I was told by my Consultant that he wanted me to be admitted on that very night of 23 August 2019 to have an emergency caesarean, I wasn't too happy about it as I told my Consultant I wanted to bring my mum and aunt who had just flown in from Malaysia few days ago to visit Hall Place in Kent before we all get busy with looking after me and the newborn, but my Consultant insisted it was best for the baby's survival and I must be admitted on that very night. The other 2 doctors who stood by my Professor Consultant looked serious as well but I kept calm as I know whatever happens God is in control. He loves me and our baby more than anyone. I just got to trust in Him with all my heart knowing He is with us every single step of the way and will not let us down.
On that night lying on the hospital bed, preparing to be moved into the operating theatre, I said to myself imagine yourself now that the surgery had been performed and you've got your healthy baby boy in your arms growing healthier and stronger each day. Imagine the positives when you're faced with a challenge. When I was sitting up (to be injected with epidural twice) and lying down (for surgery and while it was being performed for more than 2 hours) there were quite a number of people in the theatre and one man was there to talk to me throughout the procedure and he told me that he was surprised how calm I was as most of the patients he had met are "a pain in the arse". Well, I said to him we have to go through it anyway whether we are in fear or not so might as well face it with braveness and don't be a burden to people around you. As our fear can transfer to others so better stay calm. Lets' believe for the best. God is in control. I even took time to praise the anaesthetist and the surgeons and people in the operating theatre including the doctors and nurses from the special care unit who came to take away baby Janick to the special care unit once they had cleaned him and let me kiss him.
I have learnt over the years to encourage myself when situations look bleak. Like when doubtful thoughts came to mind, for example, when will my 2 year old (who is now 3 &1/2 years old) be sensible enough able to listen and stop being mischievous? When will he stop using nappies and totally be toilet trained and not wee or poo in his nappies, pants or on the floor or sofa? When will my second son come home from the neonatal unit? (He was there for more than 2 months.) Will I be able to cope looking after him by myself when he's discharged while my husband is at work and my mum and aunt have gone back to Malaysia, having to juggle looking after my active 3 year old as well? How am I going to cope getting ready to make our 5 to 5 & 1/2 hours car journey to Stoke-On-Trent and pack all the necessary things for our Christmas and New Year break there with all the wrapped-up presents and along with our 3-year old and less than 3-month baby? (Of course we broke our journey into half by staying overnight in Milton Keynes to and fro.) Etc. There will always be fearful thoughts invading our minds but we must bring our thoughts subject to Christ, stay calm and do it all prayerfully and with confident trust that God can make the impossible possible for us though Him who strengthens us.
2 Corinthians 10
4The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Well, my eldest son Jean-Luc still is a very active boy that everyday drives us up the wall, but no denying he is improving day by day. Although, yes, he's quite mischievous but he is well liked by his teachers, friends and their parents and our neighbours. He has good social and people skills that tie in with God's favour. He is toilet-trained now although has the occasional accidents, but all in all we are proud of him and what he had achieved with his teacher's help, my mum and Aunty Susan, when we were busy with visiting baby Janick in the hospital. Patience and determination pay off. God answers prayers. Thank God my younger son who was just 2 months old when we brought him home is a joy and delight. Yes, I've still got to wake up a few times middle of the night to feed him, wash his bottle, change his nappy etc, but all in all he's a real good baby, a sensible baby who only cries when necessary and is understanding and more patient than his older brother had been as a baby. I can still get ready breakfast, lunch and dinner for my household, bring Jean-Luc to nursery while looking after baby Janick. How all this is possible? He can make all things possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23).
So let us not leave any room for fearful thoughts. Don't entertain them, instead imagine yourself emerging victoriously through it all. Uphold all things in prayer and tell the Lord you need His help at the present time and always. When we acknowledge Him, He will not fail us and will not put us to shame (Psalm 25:3).
Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
Isaiah 30:15 & 18
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.
18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
If God can turned a shaken 77-year old grandmother into a 007 agent, enabling her to unlatch the bathroom door with a mop in her hand while lying down, imagine what God can do with us?
Happy and Blessed New Year everyone! May we be courageous people of the Lord and know our inheritance. As Christ is so are we in this world (1 John 4:17)!
The photos below show my courageous mother-in-law with our baby Janick last Christmas:
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