As a result of spending a few weeks at The Lutheran Home with blood clots in my lungs, I spent more time than usual lying in bed reading.
I was looking through some things I had written in my Bible over the past 20 years.
I came across some messages I wanted to share with those who may see things in a different perspective.
“Change is not something we should fear. Rather, it is something we should welcome! For without change nothing in this world would grow or blossom and no one would ever move forward to become the person or persons they were meant to be.”
Change is a daily part of living — simple things like changing clothes, the variety of foods we cook or eat, how we use our time, or buying new things… these all represent a new way of life as time moves on.
I also read about the eight “Stations of the Cross.” This represents the major changes in the life of Jesus. I have viewed the changes in my life as “chapters in my book of life,” but can also observe those as “stations.”
If I lay the pain aside, I can see where I grew with each station that I have experienced.
My life continues to change just as the seasons do every year.
My husband used to say I wasn’t even afraid of the devil, but little did he know how much I feared life without him.
Losing him was one change I had no control over.
I did not welcome that change, but I accepted it and moved into the next chapter of my life.
Devoting my life at that time to reading and studying the Bible helped me move forward to become the person I was supposed to be during that new period of my life.
And now if I am unable to accept this latest health episode, I will be unable to move on to the next chapter in my book of life.
Why did God allow the blood clots? Well, I don’t know but if it had to happen, I can at least be thankful that it was during cold weather.
By spring I will be back in the doll house picking up where I left off.
There was definitely more activity going on at The Lutheran Home and people came and went daily.
My therapist said she had never seen anyone have as many visitors as I did!
I told her I might get brave enough to sing “Greatly Blessed, Highly Favored” at the sing-a-long. So once again I certainly am not lonely, the pain is being controlled, and Jesus is still my savior!
There is a quote that reads: “Life ain’t always fair, but God is faithful.”
My prayer is that when I reach my last station the Lord will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

Linda Beck is a local writer and speaker who developed severe pulmonary embolisms in her lungs. She had to be at the Lutheran Home until she could return home to take care of herself.