BORROWED PRAYERS

I had another surgery Tuesday to remove the surgical pins put in after my recent car accident. I am facing one more surgery next Tuesday. I have an author friend (waving to Camy Tang!) flying in from San Jose, California to help me for two weeks. Another writer friend (Julie Lessman) and her husband are letting us stay the night with them the day before my surgery since we have to travel to the city in which they live. Just this Thursday at Discipleship Community at church, people from my small group (waving to Nick and Carmen and Marcie) told me that any time I want to come to church or need a ride when hubby is out of town to call and they'll come get me. My cousin's fiance and friend of the family Terylinn is coming to clean my house next week. And Aimee and Laurel and my sister Lisa have been helping with my girls. My mom is the taxi service when I can't be. I have had so much help, prayer and support, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the kindness around me.

My family (parents and sister and brother-in-law, granny, sister-in-law etc.) and friends (from church and small group) and my cousins have sent Get Well cards. Many of my fellow Love Inspired and ACFW authors (pubbed and unpubbed) and my editors have also sent Get Well Cards and e-mails of support and prayers. I also have an online prayer support group who faithfully prays for me. My wonderful cousin Cheryl Rose also posts prayer requests on our My Family Web site and I have lots of people praying for me, including churches I've never even heard of. I know you blog readers have been praying too.

To all, THANK YOU! I pray that you have people in your life just like you.

I could spend all day naming the people who are praying for me and offering to help in various ways. People who heard about the wreck on Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers, Shoutlife, My Space, etc. I've gotten e-mails from all over the world. I thank God for each and every one of you. I am more thankful than words can express.

I have a hard time being the one needing help. Anyone who knows me, knows I'd rather be the one helping. But I know there is a reason God has me going through this. I've been unable to drive all summer and mostly homebound. On crutches with impaired mobility. It has given me a new respect for permanantly disabled people. It has also given me a heart for the homebound. Those who can't drive or get themselves around. Those who are forced by their disability or inability to drive to have to depend on others to take them places.

God is doing something in my heart with this. Not sure what will come out of it but I'm praying for the ability to help others once I'm well. I'm praying that I never forget what it's like not to be able to take myself places or go where I want when I want. I think of all the years and all the people I had no mind of who have been homebound or shut in.

Is there someone in your life like that? Can you think of a way to take them to town for a load of groceries? Or take them to a parade for an hour or to a park? Something, anything to get them outside. Maybe it's a neighbor or a loved one.

Here's my prayer. Please, by all means "borrow" it:

Father, I pray we never take what we have for granted. Our physical abilities. There is always someone worse off than we are. Help us to look beyond ourselves and give us compassion to reach out to those who are shut in. Give us acute sensitivity to know how to help those who are disabled and still maintain their dignity. Help us to include them in our activities and never act in a way that makes them feel burdensome. Help us to include them. We don't want anyone to feel left out or forgotten or abandoned Lord. Give us your heart for these people. Help us not just feel sorry for them or for their situation. Help us to do something about it. In Jesus' name. Amen.

By the way...this is (pictured above) my cousin Donnie. He has been a source of inspiration to me from the time I was young. He is wheelchair bound but that doesn't stop him from getting on his four-wheeler and zooming across his yard. He has such determination and joy. He is a hero to me and my family. Please pray that God blesses him and his family.

Cheryl Wyatt