[The author of this article was recently hospitalized with Guillian-Berre Syndrome (GBS). GBS is a serious, painful condition that causes paralysis due to antibodies attacking the body’s immune system. Karen was hospitalized for three weeks. She has since returned home and is making good progress in her recovery.]

"God never moves without purpose or plan, when trying His servant and molding a man. Give thanks to the Lord though the testing seems long.In darkness He giveth a song. Oh rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistakes. He knoweth the end of each path that I take. For when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold."
- (Ron Hamilton)

That’s the first verse of a song written by a young man the night before he was to go into surgery for a problem with his eye. He was a budding Christian singer and song writer who wondered how he would ever be taken seriously if he were to lose his eye. My children learned this and other songs by "Patch the Pirate" when they were in school and church. It is the song that I sang as I laid in a bed for 2 ½ weeks paralyzed at the wrist, hands, back, left shoulder and from the waist down.I am a person who spends her time worrying. It is wrong and can lead to depression and health problems. I know this because I have experienced both. But this situation was different. This time there was peace.

Let’s go back a little. We were preparing for a free vacation when I began to feel weakness in my legs and hands. I went to a clinic in town and was told not to worry. They said, "Go on your trip, have a good time and we’ll set up some tests when you get back." After two more phone calls to the clinic, I decided to go to the hospital. On call that night at the hospital was the best neurologist in northern Illinois. She had me admitted and began testing me for Guillian-Barre Syndrome. Very few people have even heard of this and very few patients are diagnosed early in the illness. Here I was with the best doctor around and was diagnosed early. Many have said I was lucky. But, no, luck had nothing to do with it.

I know there are many people who can cling to Bible verses at a time like this. Others get mad and blame God. But God gave me peace. I would not describe myself as someone with enormous talents and abilities. I am a person who for many years has stayed in the background, just doing whatever work needed to be done that no one else wanted to do. I am a support unit to my family and my job, and have taken great pride in the knowledge that I am there for them whenever they need me. But now I am the one in need, and I found myself at peace with that. For the first time in my life, I had been put in a place where I was the one who needed to be served by others. No longer was I the one serving. I discovered that I had grown so proud of being able to take care of everything around. I might not always handle things perfectly, but I made sure that the important things were handled. Even when I had been ill in the past, I was still able to accomplish a few things. Suddenly I found myself needing three strangers to pull me out of bed to assist me in going to the bathroom. Yet I was not angry or depressed.

Corrie ten Boom once wrote about an experience in her life when she learned that God gives us what we need just at the time that we need it. Not a day early or a day late, but right on time. He did that for me. He gave me a peace in my heart that was instant and willing to accept whatever was to be the result of this illness.

I thank God that everything was in place for me, that I was spared from the worse part of this illness and that He has given me a husband, a daughter and a son who became my arms and legs when my own did not work. I have been ministered to by the families at church with goodies, pictures from the children and the prayers of people and churches that I am sure I will not totally know about until I get to heaven.

We still do not know if there will be a total recovery. But it really does not matter. I am at peace with where God has me and will learn to adjust my physical life to the direction He points me to. Thank you for your prayers and visits. The family of God has been a blessing to our family and we will always remember the hearts of such servants.

P.S. Take off your shoes & socks. Wiggle your toes. And thank God that you are able to wiggle your toes.

Phil and Karen are grateful for all the prayers, visits and cards from the RVBC family. Especially touching were the beautiful cards created by the children.