July 27

My Husband asked that I share a letter that I wrote to my Transplant Doctor Team.  I had a minute today so here goes,

Dear Friends,

Since March of 2007, it seemed like I had been going though a very long valley in my life.  My health was so poor and at times the pain seemed to much to bare.  I would pray prayers that hit the ceiling fan and I began to let sadness and anger overtake me.  Then, this past fall we were visiting my husbands brother and family.  We went that Friday evening to hear a Christian Artist’s Family sing at the Taft Theater in Cincinnati.  God’s peace and presence were made so real to me that night.  I want to share the words to the song that touched me the most.

FEAR NOT TOMORROW”
by Carolyn Adkins

In this age of uncertainty
Questions come to my mind
What is waiting ahead for me
And the rest of mankind

Are you troubled o’er things to come
Is your future unsure
Are you dreading the coming dawn
A long day to endure

FEAR NOT TOMORROW
GOD IS ALREADY THERE
HE’S CHARTING THE COARSE YOU’LL TAKE
HE SEES EACH HIDDEN SNARE

HE’S WAITING TO GUIDE YOU
THROUGH EACH BURDEN AND CARE
FEAR NOT TOMORROW
GOD IS ALREADY THERE

MANY THINGS ABOUT TOMORROW
I DON’T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND
BUT I KNOW WHO HOLDS MY FUTURE
AND I KNOW WHO HOLDS MY HAND.

In the past weeks coming up to my transplant surgery,  I have had some great time with God.  My life has been the most unpredictable I’ve ever seen.  If something was to happen one way,  it general happens another.  Over time I realized I wasted far too much time trying to find answers and being angry instead of prayerful.

A few months ago our church walked through a tragic accident with a family in our church.  As the whole church was grieving that Sunday morning in hearing the loss of Sandra,  who was an incredible witness for Jesus in all of her life, our Sunday School teacher shared a quote that I will never forget.  This is the quote, “Nobody, (Sandra) ever gets to heaven one moment to late or one moment to early,  it is always to the Master’s design.”  Wow! Once again the assurance that my life is in His hands.

To end this is I would like to share my take on a statement made by my dear friend who justed walked through Cancer. For in all sincerity, it is my testimony as well.

o   There is nothing, no joy, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch me until it has come past Christ to me. If it has come that far, it has come with great purpose, which at the time I may not understand, but lifting my eyes to Him, I receive its Blessing. No sorrow will ever disturb me, no circumstance will cause me to fret. I will rest is the joy of what my Lord is, the rest of certain VICTORY.

Thank-you so much for the hours that you work so hard for each one of us in need of a transplant. With yet another set-back I can say, I refuse to be downcast. I have had my cry, I have prayed and now I am ready to do anything I can to make it happen in October.

It is the desire of my heart to have my health restored to continue being the best wife, mother,friend and nurse that I can be.

Sincerely,
Bethany Eckert

I am having a wonderful week. I have been very busy.  Braedon is attending our churches VBS.  It has been wonderful. I have enjoyed organizing  the staff snacks and keeping the workers tummies full! God is so Good!

Bethany

More Soon!  Tom got me my own laptop! He has promised to teach me how to do pictures on this thing! I can hardly wait!