Thankful Thursday--Poop

I remember when I became a mom, and a fellow new mom commented about how much more time poop now dominated our thoughts.

What she didn't know was how much poop already dominated my thoughts.

In 1995, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. I don't know if it was a proper diagnosis--I was under a lot of stress, mostly due to a sinful relationship I was in with a coworker in my research group.

It was pretty mild at first, but continued to get worse despite various medications. I was on Prednisone for most of my pregnancy with Harmony, and still having horrible symptoms. I could tell you where every bathroom was in every public place. It got to the point where I stole diapers from the baby if we were going for a walk farther than a half block from our house. Nothing like having bloody diarrhea in the middle of a Walmart to bring you to your knees.

But I don't know that I really prayed about it, other than the "Oh God, not now!" and "Why me, Lord?"

One day in our Life Group, we opened by each silently reading a Psalm, then choosing a verse to share with the group. I read Psalm 6, and I was just totally overcome when I read verses 3 and 4: "My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love." I basically sat there crying through the rest of the small group.

When it was prayer time, we divided into smaller groups of men and women. I shared how much these verses had affected me. The leader asked, "So how long have you been praying for healing?" and my answer was, well, I don't know that I ever have.

So they prayed for me, laying hands on me and specifically praying that I be healed. I don't know that I felt better when we left, but gradually over the next two weeks, I went from 10-15 trips to the bathroom a day to two or three. One of the people who prayed for me followed up, and I said it was better but not perfect, and she prayed that God would complete his healing.

And He did.

I've been symptom free since then. While the doctors will describe it as remission, I'm taking no maintenance medications, and I know that it's not remission, but that God has healed me.

So this week I'm thankful for the power of prayer, that God really still does heal people when they seek Him, that the Kingdom of God can break through into this broken and fallen world.

And I'm thankful for poop. Normal, plain ol' poop.