What Are We Working On Today?

What are we working on today? 

I don’t consider myself a worrier. My mom is a worrier. When I was young she was so protective of her children. Yet, over time, she has learned that worrying doesn’t change the outcome of any situation.  She taught me the phrase: “Let Go and Let God.” Surrender to Him and trust in His great mercy!

Two weeks ago I had surgical repair on my left shoulder to remove a bone spur and arthritis. Having had rotator cuff repair on my right shoulder less than two years ago and knowing that this surgery was less invasive with a faster recuperation period, I was willing to jump into this procedure with no worries. It was my goal to prevent the fire (of a potential rotator cuff tear due to the bone spur), rather than fight it.

Prepping for surgery was tedious. As various nurses came and went while checking my chart and connecting me to monitors and IV, each one asked me the same question: “What are we working on today?” They wanted to be sure my answer was always “my LEFT shoulder.” One nurse wrote “YES” on that shoulder. Later, my surgeon peeked in on me and asked the same question. He then proceeded to write his initials on it.
 

Let Go, Let God

I was not worried as I was wheeled into the operating room.  I had been through this before and I had total trust in my surgeon. Groggy from the medication, I was watching the medical staff gather around me to do their work. One nurse was taping down my right arm. The anesthesiologist was behind me shooting a nerve block into my neck. To my left, I watched with intrigue as my left hand and arm were being taped up.

Having previously observed a similar shoulder surgical repair for a friend of mine, my mind flashed back to seeing that procedure on her body all while her arm was suspended in the air. And, finally, my surgeon popped up next to me and asked the final question: “What are we working on today?” Overwhelmed by it all, I couldn’t even answer. I simply started to cry.

With tears rolling down my face and a lump in my throat, I could only surrender–to let go, and to trust that God would take care of me as I drifted off to sleep.

BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD -Psalm 46:10

When I woke up in recovery, I was grateful that God, in His infinite mercy, did indeed take care of me.  But I was also grateful that my surgeon who, for lack of my final answer, managed to find and repair the correct shoulder!  God is good!

Please share your comments and let me know if you, too, surrender your worries to God.

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Photo credit: renjith krishnan

About the Author

Sharon Lape

Sharon Lape is both the permissions manager and the editorial assistant in the periodicals department at Franciscan Media. She also researches and provides content for the popular Minute Meditations feature. Sharon is a wife and a mother of four children.