Protecting What is out of Sight

How would someone say grace with a feeding tube in? I would never have pondered this question had it not been for a story told by Joni Ereckson Tada.

She was a guest on Focus on the Family, and told the story of a woman with a specific form of ALS (Lou Gerregg's Disease). This woman's family asked Joni if she could give her a call and offer her some encouragement. With the phone held to her ear by a family member, she told Joni her story. She said that everyday, her breathing was getting less and and less. Doctors said that soon she would have to give them permission to put her on a breathing machine. This was her only option.

"What can I do?," she asked. I don't want to do anything dishonoring to God. I can't do anything, she said. I can't even get up."

When Joni realized what she meant, she began to ask her a little more about her daily routine. The women said she needed to be intravenously fed through a tube put in by her mother. (Some sort of liquid like Ensure).
"Next time she gives you your meal, you can tell her 'Thanks mom, that was good.'". Joni also suggested they say grace before the meal to thank God.

"How would you say grace with a feeding tube?" (I believe Joni was asked the question.). And so, this woman who was feeling that her quality of life, might not be quality enough, had a new perspective.

The counsel given to this lady facing losing the very breath in her body, was that no matter what the situation, God values our lives all the way to the very last second, and he is continually using each life to do extraordinary things, whether we can see them or not. Joni, gave the example of a baby in the womb. For nine months, the infant is in secluded darkness, being formed and shaped. God takes that little life and makes it what he wants it to be, without us knowing all the wonders of his handi-work. Then Joni said something I'll never forget. She said "One day is as a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years are as a day" (. ). In the Hebrew culture, this scripture is interpreted literally. Joni said we often dwell on the first part of it, but forget the second part: "...and a thousand years are as a day."

Each 24 hour increase God gives us, is an opportunity for a thousand years of blessings! (Remember, eternity is a long time). Now, this does not mean, let's all see how well we can behave ourselves (although, that's not a bad idea in principle. It means when we surrender ourselves to God, he is always looking for ways to use us, however, small or seemingly insignificant. Sometimes his most perfect work is done in the things we don't see. Since everyday is a thousand years worth of opportunities.

No, I've never had to think about how I might say grace with a feeding tube; but I know that when I must abandon my list of accomplishments for the day, the week, the month, or even the year because my circumstances or my physical condition won't allow them, I can take heart and know that God is looking at things differently. I have opportunities everywhere to store up rewards in Heaven, wherever I am, whatever is going on.