Hope and Joy

Just before Marlene, the friendy nurse, came in the room on the 2nd floor of the hospital to ask me a slew of questions and take my blood pressure and check my oxygen level, just before that - I noticed a couple framed pictures on the wall!  I hadn't noticed the pictures beforehand because I was, more than likely, gazing into My Sweetheart's eyes.

"joy", "hope" - the names of the commissioned pieces of art - painted by Wilf Perreault, who I discovered just tonight is a Saskatchewanian- brought me extreme peace. What did it for me, maybe even more than the artwork itself, were the Scripture verses printed.  On the 'joy' painting - "Be joyful always.  Pray continually.  Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The painting depicts a few houses and garages on a typical street in a typical town, but what is not typical is the manger scene on a garage door.  I didn't notice it at first.  But when I did I was encouraged.  Here was a home where the presence of Christ is evident. And in the painting there was light shining from the garage door onto a darkened street. I was reminded of another Scripture verse from Matthew - "let you light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." The light of the Lord was shining from the garage door. 

This painting had a passage from Romans - " We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how deeply God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love."

What an amazing gift this morning! Proof for me that God loves me and is holding me in the palm of His hand. Even while we were waiting in a hospital room, He reassured me of His goodness.  Hope. Joy. While preparing for surgery I was given hope. I received joy. I experienced immense peace.

And 2 hours later, after a visit from a doctor - who asked me another slew of questions, and a doctor in training -she listened to my heart and lungs,  after Ben did my cardiogram, and after the bubbly blood taker took my blood,  I was declared healthy and ready for surgery tomorrow!

While filled with peace, instilled with hope, and experiencing joy, I went to Costco with My Sweetheart. Celebratory?  Well, I forgot to bring a pillow to the city, and I knew a pillow would come in handy to cushion myself on the way home from the hospital, and Costco had a great deal on pillows, so it just seemed like the place to go.

After Costco and a quick bite we began our 'date' at the Science Center and Imax, followed by a short walk around a lovely park.

After our walk, we headed  back to Costco, just to wear off some time before supper. Really.  For our date night we decided to go to the Keg. We had never been to the Keg, so thought that would be a great place to go.  And it was. We were pleasantly surprised while waiting for our table when my other brother - my brother who was not going to give me 2 bits for jumping into a hole 30 years ago- and his friend walked in! So we ate together! A great evening - a great way to end the day! A day that has been filled with joy and hope!  And peace...