A Boat Named Floyd

Floyd's condition remains steady.  I continue to have a combination of good/not-so-good days......but the biggest blessing is that we've had lots of sunny days! 

Knowing that I love hydrangeas, someone sent me a photo of the pruning she recently did on her gorgeous big bush of them.  I was a bit stunned.  It seemed so drastic.  When I questioned her about it, she assured me that it was needed.  She said the bush was overloaded and new buds couldn't get the light and nutrients they needed.  Some of the old blossoms had been burnt by the summer sun too.  I was still surprised at how much she had pruned.

Well, sure enough.  It wasn't too many days later that she was telling me lots of new flower buds were emerging.  She had done exactly what the beautiful bush needed to keep flourishing.  If you've read very many of my posts, you'll know that of course I would "ponder" this.  And I have been.

There are many times when the "pruning" in my life feels drastic.  At the moment it feels never-ending.  I sometimes wonder if God is sure about all He is allowing to come my way.  It feels like so much has been "trimmed."  I feel exposed, and vulnerable at times.  But I also have come to know that it's not a punishment.....it's more of a gift, a reward.  He sees the potential in me for growth, for more.  He lovingly prunes away the unneeded things so that there's more room for Him in my life.  I guess I should be concerned if He's NOT pruning!

In times of physical suffering, we all focus on the "outside" pain.  While I've been on our unexpected journey, I've realized that the most important things happening in my life are unseen.  They're in my heart, in my relationship with the Lord.  The suffering is only the conduit for the deeper things God is working on.

The pruning in my life will look different from the pruning in yours.  Only God knows what is needed in our lives to help us grow.  In our times of hardship and suffering, we can trust Him.  He won't prune too much.....even if it looks drastic.  He knows just what we need.  

We are all walking through a world-wide pandemic.  And then we are each facing individual needs, hardships, problems.  It's a lot!  But God is right with us.  He's by our side.  He is using all that we are facing to make us more like Him.  The pruning may feel severe, drastic - but beauty is coming from it.

"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."  John 15:2

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.  And God is faithful.  He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand."  1 Corinthians 10:13

"Although He was a son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered."  Hebrews 5:8

"Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."  2 Corinthians 4:17

We can't run or hide from God's work in our lives.  But we can trust Him.  He has good things in store for us through the pruning He does in our lives.  Just as the hydrangea bush is now having beautiful new flowers after being pruned, so we will have beauty in our lives as we allow God to work in us.

Encouragement is such a powerful thing.  It can be so simple - a gentle smile, a quiet thank you, a word of appreciation or affirmation, a small token that says "I love you."  It doesn't cost much for us to express it, but it can mean the world to the one on the receiving end.  We are made in such a way that encouragement strengthens us, brings healing, and brightens our day.

August 3 was Floyd's 75th birthday.  The years have flown by, and the last few years have been very different and difficult ones as we've walked along our unexpected journey.  I would have loved to be with Floyd for his birthday, but, of course, that's not allowed these days under our pandemic restrictions.  I sent a video message to him that they played first thing in the morning - the therapist said he was very "vocal" and responsive.  And the staff sang to him.  I prayed for the Lord to comfort him and encourage his heart.

And - lo and behold!  We've had some special encouragements in recent days.  I keep telling Floyd that he is loved and not forgotten - each of these have been reminders of that.

A few days ago I received news about "a boat named Floyd."  Some YWAMMERS in Amsterdam launched a small boat.  They named it Floyd, and launched it with the prayer that Floyd would be healed.  I've attached some photos at the bottom of this update.  It's parked at The Cleft which is very special.  That's where our family lived when we first moved into the red light district in Amsterdam.  People have big ships named after them, but this little boat being named after Floyd because of the prayers being prayed for him couldn't be more meaningful.  I told Floyd all about it.  This was such a sweet encouragement.

The hospital where Floyd is has been very busy.   Something special happened with a temporary doctor that the hospital hired to help with their patient load.  This doctor was assigned to Floyd.  It just so "happens" that the doctor heard Floyd speak in the 1980s at the University of Stellenbosch.  Floyd's message had an impact on him.  He thanked Floyd and said Floyd gave him a big grin.

That was a timely reminder to Floyd of what I've said - he's not forgotten.  It's amazing to me that the doctor remembered Floyd and his message from over 30 years ago.  I don't think I remember messages from that long ago.  This was definitely an encouragement!

I received an email message on the morning of Floyd's birthday from a man in the US.  He was awakened 2 nights previously with Floyd's name coming over and over to him.  He didn't know of Floyd, so he got up out of bed and looked him up.  He read about his background, his ministry, his books, and learned that he's been sick.  Then he prayed for us.  This certainly fits the bill as an encouragement......God waking someone up in the middle of the night to pray for him who doesn't even know him!!

I think you can see how each of these things were such special gifts for Floyd (and for me) for his 75th birthday.  They are priceless!  

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up."  1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Encourage one another every day, while it is called today."  Hebrews 3:13

"Who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  2 Corinthians 1:4

"Comfort one another with these words."  1 Thessalonians 4:18

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."  Proverbs 16:24

"Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up."  Proverbs 12:25

I am so grateful for the love and prayers for us on this journey.  I am keenly aware that I couldn't have made it all this time on my own.  I frequently tell Floyd not to worry about me - that my weary hands are being upheld by friends from all over the world.  Their encouragement has blessed me!