Pegi Bricker
By Pegi Bricker
Guest columnist
I recently had the pleasure of signing in donors during a Red Cross blood drive.
Actually, I used a laptop, and after I learned “tap here” is not the same as touch, press or touch and press several times, the tasks I was assigned went fairly smooth. I am thinking we had 35 lovely people donate over the course of six hours.
Now as some history from me about giving blood. I used to be a member of the Gallon Club, donating my O+ consistently as my tank filled back up. I found out I was pregnant with my son after being deemed too anemic to donate almost 34 years ago.
After I told hubby about my experience, he said, “Let’s go shopping.” We bought a home pregnancy test for us, chocolate ice cream for me and a pack of Dorals for him. The hard part was trying to figure out when that “first time of the day” voiding occurred because as I recall, I was up quite often to tinkle.
I ate the ice cream in celebration, threw up and then that was that.
Back to the blood drive …
One sweet baby son led to a precious baby girl, which led to my Gallon Club card getting dusty. After we returned stateside, I began to donate again. Soon, I was diagnosed with MS, and since they didn’t and still don’t know what the exact cause of this mess of a disease is, my donating days had to stop. Now, MSers can donate blood, but only if they are off their disease modifying drugs. Oh well…
Almost two years ago, I developed two large duodenal ulcers after taking too many NSAIDs for sciatica. Over a two-week lapse, I had 14 blood transfusions. Finally, the bleeding was found, repaired and fully stopped, but to this day, I think often of how 14 blood donors saved my life. I mean literally saved my life.
After those weeks and my full recovery, Clarence told me the doctors had said they weren’t sure of my recovery, and he should make preparations. Yikes! Thank you to anyone who has ever given blood — ever.
Now if you recall, I am a totally sold out to Jesus Christ. I don’t have a denomination, or as some call it a religion. I do have a relationship with my Lord Jesus, which becomes more intimate as my days tick by.
More importantly, I had a blood transfusion of the most intimate life-altering type. The only son of my Abba Father gave me the gift of eternal life by his blood. My life was not only spared the eternal damnation of being separated from my creator. My life was changed as his very heartbeat has become my life. All I had to do initially was ask. I have found since repentance is an ongoing lifestyle.
The closer I get to Jesus and the more I study and meditate on his word, the more itsy bitsy things I find that have been buried deep. Regrets. Excuses. Sloth. Disobedient omissions. Idle words. Course jesting. Token prayers. White lies. Compromise. Oh my!
I’m not saying I have never slipped up, fallen down, backslidden or completely blew my testimony while being critical of my kids and husband or perhaps letting a not so pretty word come out from time to time. I have, but while those temper tantrums are now few and far between, they do happen. However, I refuse to give up on myself and my development of self-control.
Jesus has never and will not ever give up on me. Why should I give up on me? Contrary to what you may believe, every time I mess up, my resolve becomes more determined, more intense to proclaim the lyrics of Second Chapter of Acts, a former trailblazing Christian pop trio from the 1980s: “I have a mansion builder who ain’t through with me yet.”
I have always loved the saying “Tell others about Jesus. When necessary, use words.” I need to always remember to never forget this because I find myself little talkative. Surprised?
So my goals today come straight from God’s word. I want my testimony, my life to reflect his word. Cornerstone Community Church, where my husband and I worship and serve, is reading in unity passages from the Old and New Testaments. In. Unity. Together. As I read my assignment today, I found my marching orders.
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. “In God in whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?” Psalms 56:3-4
“You have taken account of my wanderings, put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know that God is for me. In God whose word I praise, in the Lord whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Your vows are binding upon me, O God. I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God in the land of the living.” Psalm 56:8-13
When disease strikes, it is very easy to listen to fear, and it is understandable to let those fears rule your heart, your mind, your attitude, your point of view, your days. Guarding my heart doesn’t come easy for me as it takes energy to have resolve, and if I am honest, I would rather do my crafting while watching “Call the Midwife” on Netflix from my very comfortable bed than get out of said bed and met my homemaking chores head-on and my heart-making time of Bible study with enthusiasm; therefore, I have a secret method for the later. I ask the holy spirit to help me. I humble myself before God, admit I’m in need of his lordship in my life, and I wait. I be still, and I consider him.
I have found much truth like Elijah in that God speaks not only in the earth, quaking, mountain, shaking wind or the power of fire. Most often he speaks to me in the sound of a gentle wind, but I have to listen. I have to want more than anything to please my Abba Father. He gave us his word, but we have to open the cover.
The Bible says when we delight in him, he will give us the desires of our heart. What do you desire? Lottery-winning numbers? A red Ferrari? A carton of unbroken eggs?
My desires? I have two. I want to love God with all my strength, heart and soul. And I want to love others right into the loving arms of God so we can sit together at his banquet table.
I have no plans to let MS, spinal instability, OPLL, side effects of medications, MRI results, finances, weakness, pain, any bad reports from man or anything else cause me to fail. I only want to see you there.
Pegi Bricker is a Seymour resident who has lived with multiple sclerosis for the past 20 years. Send comments to [email protected].