(This is a paper I wrote regarding a healing in 2009.)

LEST I FORGET

Of the ten lepers who were healed, only one returned to say thanks. Lest I should ever be one of the nine, I want to offer this testimony of thanks.

Oneta Hayes, April 4, 2009

Grandma (me) got hit by the wheelchair on March 19. I had been warned about sitting in it.  But I forgot. As I stood up I put my hand down on the electric switch; and held on for dear life as it hit me in the rear. When I pitched forward my hand came off the switch, the chair stopped and I landed with a crash. I lay there thinking, “Well, now I’ve done it. No choice, someone will call emergency and I’ll land in a hospital whether I want to go or not!” It didn’t happen that way. I got to my feet with lots of aides pulling at me. I noticed with great wonder that my feet weren’t hurt although the chair had gone over them. Aides had to lift it off me. My knees weren’t hurt; what a surprise. But my hip area – hurts. I could hobble, however; so I did. Friday, Saturday, Sunday morning. Made it to church. But crashed there and had to be wheeled out.

I had been warned about the dangers of not “getting checked out.” A fracture could turn to a break, not seeing to broken bones could lead to some bad disease, etc. but other voices could not compare to my whispered fears – what if? But no matter “what if,’ still I knew Jesus was the only healer I could run to. Pastor had just preached about One Voice – to follow the voice of Jesus, the one who said my sheep know my voice. He warned against listening to the “voices in the land.” So I took help from dear church people to get me into my car and went home.

Sammy was not home when I got here. I basically dragged my left leg along as I made it from car to my desk. I stopped at one time and called for a friend to bring me a walker, but she couldn’t come immediately so I continued my trek to my desk. I marvel that I made it. I wonder what unseen help I must have had. Once I sat down I had very little pain. I had been reading the book of Isaiah, so I decided to continue where I had left off while waiting for Sammy to get home. Isaiah 46 is where I began. That is where I needed to be! Verse 3 and 4. ” .. .you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” So began that journey of faith.                     .

I had to carry myself by arm strength via a walker, but it did provide a little mobility. I had almost no pain except for my arms hurting. I viewed “no pain” as a wonderful gift from God. However, pain WAS what kept me from walking. I could put a bit of weight on my toe, but I couldn’t put my foot flat. I don’t know what the problem was. Sometimes it felt like the bone at the side of the thigh, sometimes it felt like muscle soreness in the thigh and even below the knee, sometimes it felt like it must be a nerve problem; I couldn’t seem to “diagnose” the problem.

On Thursday Krissy drove her car to my front door so I could get in and guide her around to run some errands. However, the effort was tiring enough to make me give that up. I can’t believe how hard it was just to get my feet over the threshold, let alone the four inch step!

So I stayed home, watched TV, embroidered, read.

I marvel at how the Lord seemed to cause something to happen that would bring courage and hope. It was hard to get into the bed, but the end of day, Jesus was so present as I reviewed my backlog of scripture promises. Songs were medicine. Once as I labored to step up to the elevated hall floor, I began humming. What was the song? The words came to me. Each step I take, I know that you will guide me, to higher ground he ever leads me on. Is that not something! Those words just as I am trying to step up that four inches or so! One day this scripture popped out at me: In it’s time, I will do this swiftly (Is. 60:22). I laughingly shared that with Krissy and Sammy. A few days later when I was discouraged, Krissy reminded me of that scripture. It gave courage to me, and it was a pleasure to have Krissy be the one who reminded me. Sammy encouraged me to see a doctor, but he was constant in his support of me to make my choice, and he always encouraged my faith if that was my route to go.

One morning the presence of the Holy Spirit was so manifest as I prayed. I felt like getting up and walking. I stood up with the walker, lost my nerve, became hesitant, thought about how much it might hurt, and sat down. It came to my mind how marvelous it was when Jesus told the crippled man to take up his bed and walk. The guy did it!

Another support was given to me by Karen one day when she called and quoted Ps. 94:9 to me. Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? What encouragement!

Wednesday I felt impressed to call Ryan and ask for him to have the Jr. Highs pray for me that night. I did that. I don’t know whether or not they did, but I know my obedience resulted in me sitting here in the room meditating during the time I knew they would be in service. After about an hour, I got up and took three or four real steps. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday brought vast improvements but still with dependence on the walker.

This morning, Sunday, I got up and got ready for church without the walker. I planned to go, but found I was entirely too tired and weak to do that, so I failed to reach my goal. I have moved about with and without the walker today. I remind myself that in his time, he will complete what he has begun.

When I got up this morning, I thought of Jesus telling the man to take up his bed and walk. So I decided to test the situation by making my bed properly. I did it. No walker.

So it is now close to bedtime. Carl and Vickie came to bring the car home. We ate Pizza. I think they probably came also to check on me, and pray for me. I’m thankful. The day has not been easy, but improving.

Please, Father, heal me completely. I long to be useful to you and your kingdom. Let me bring joy, healing, and happiness to your precious people this week.

And, thank you, Jesus.

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     July 6, 2009 – I have just run on to this unfinished story. It has been 3 months since the incident related above. I see that I wrote it on Sunday, April 5. I went back to work on Tues, April 7, but it       was a bit rough. On Wednesday I was okay. I have been okay ever since; even back to the treadmill for a mile a day. No more pain in my hip or leg. Thank you, Jesus! The accident happened on March 19; the healing process was complete by April 8.