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When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your love, O Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.
Psalm 94: 18-19 NIV

It started out as an ordinary day.

Little did I know that evening I would face a brush with death 35,000 feet in the air; arriving in a far away city, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. And in my despair and anguish, all I had was my faith and my Lord.

My mind was focused on the trip I would be taking that afternoon. Employed as a flight attendant for thirty-plus years, I have been on many trips. Thankfully, most have been uneventful, and there was no reason to think this day would be any different. It was a quick one-hour flight up and nine hours in a hotel. And a quick flight back the next morning. Sure seemed easy enough. This day, however, easy was not part of God’s plan.

As we took off and began our climb, I made the welcome announcement to our passengers. We leveled off and the captain signaled that it was safe for us to be up in the cabin and begin our service. I went into the aisle and leaned over to offer our snack basket to a passenger seated by the window when a sudden and severe pain wrecked havoc in my chest. It was searing and debilitating, but I did my best to keep my smile and continue the service.

Returning to the galley area, I doubled over from the physical pain and from the mental fear that was entering my thoughts.

Lord, what is this, what is wrong here?

Struggling, I was able to make the requested drinks and deliver them to the passengers.

By now the pain had gravitated between my shoulder blades, and it was all I could do to stand. I went to sit on my jumpseat away from the view of passengers and leaned over in intense pain. Knowing I needed immediate medical attention, I instructed another flight attendant to call the cockpit and request paramedics meet our flight.

I have done that many times in my thirty-plus years of flying for passengers – BUT, never for myself. We were already on our descent into Charlottesville and on the ground in less than twenty minutes. Once at the hospital, it was immediately determined that I was having a heart attack and I was prepped for surgery.

Wait. This can’t be happening, Lord. No. Please. My girls have already lost their daddy. Please, spare me, Lord. They still need me.

I was rolled into the surgery area. One of my main arteries was 90% blocked and a stent was placed. Five hours after the onset of this nightmare, I was finally placed in the ICU.

Our minds are a complex machine.

They can digest a multitude of thoughts in a matter of minutes. Many of those thoughts come and go with no aim or purpose. Yet, in a crisis, there is only one area that gives us comfort; those pertaining to God. It is here we find rest and peace. Calmness can control our anxieties. God is our refuge, an ever helping presence.

It is when His promises meet us face to face and the prospect of eternity with Him is revealed, that our hearts are warmed and our souls experience joy.

And in that five hour crisis of the unknown, it was only Christ that could offer me this peace. It was only Christ that assured me of His love for me and all that He still has planned for me. It was all I had.

And, it was all I needed.

So, while I could look at this bump in the road as another trial, another headache, another annoyance, I choose to look at it as another moment to glorify God for His graciousness in my life.

As I recover from this physical challenge, I am grateful for life. I am grateful I can go forward tending to the business God still has in store for me. And while I tremendously miss the support of my husband walking this challenge with me, I will lean even more on God to see me through. Yes, sisters, He is all I need.

Sweet Father, thank You for every moment, every challenge, and every blessing in our lives. Help us to keep our eyes focused on You and Your plans for us. It is such a blessing to know You are with us in any situation. Amen