The Shadow Of My Porch Swing - The Presence Of God - Part 3Sample

TRANSFUSION 

I love my kids, but having kids does not love me. My body revolts and rebels, leading to months of shots and precautionary medical care. A few years ago, a normal evening turned tragic soon after our fourth baby turned one. While celebrating my grandpa’s birthday, I began bleeding uncontrollably and by the time my husband rushed me to the hospital, the situation was critical. Hemorrhaging and losing consciousness, the doctors rushed me into surgery. Imagine our shock, when we were told it was a close call and that I had also miscarried. Overwhelmed by the extreme loss of blood and now the loss of our child, I literally felt drained of the life in me. As the week progressed I could not gain ground, my blood levels steadily dropping and weakness overtaking me. 

Concern for my health growing, my doctor suggested a blood transfusion, infusing me with the life-giving blood of another. It’s amazing really, to know that someone else could give me back my life, but due to a family incident with tainted blood I was terrified. Weak, irrational and scared, I just couldn’t bring myself to trust this option until my husband quietly spoke up. You see my husband, my beloved, is blood-type O. He would be my donor. There was no need to fear. He willing went and chose to bleed out as much as they could take into that collection bag, knowing exactly where it was going. 

As we sat the next day in the hospital room, the nurse came in with several bags and asked for my consent. I looked for only one thing, “Given by Chris Thomas.” Peace immediately filled my soul as they hung the bags above my head. With each drip his blood began to flow thru my veins, my body accepting the life-giving nutrients it so desperately required.

The Bible says we are all spiritually dying, losing our life from the hemorrhaging effects of sin, and we need a transfusion. Our bodies are not capable of restoring life on their own, but whose blood do we choose?  The blood of this world is tainted and diseased, but the blood of Jesus Christ is trustworthy and pure. And He is the lover of our soul. He came and chose to bleed out and give us His life. When you accept His sacrificial gift and allow Him to be your Savior, the anatomy of your life changes. When His life blood flows through your veins and renews you, it replaces everything that wasn't enough to sustain life and instead, you receive abundant life for eternity. 

Jesus, "thank you" doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel. I was dying and needed new life and you gave it to me. Just because you love me.  Help me to never take for granted the life you sacrificed for me. Because of your gift, I get to live a full life today.

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