For the past several weeks, our daughter Jill has been suffering with swollen tonsils, This is quite unusual for people her age, but nonetheless, it was a real problem complicated by the restrictions on visiting medical practices, etc. And surgery, considered “elective,” wasn’t permitted so she was in something of a conundrum – sick with tonsils touching and affecting her vocal cords and breathing…. but unable to do anything about it until the surgery center opened up again.
Then, she had to deal with the issues of priority and how everyone scheduled before the pandemic was ahead of her in line. That is, until things got really serious and the surgeon actually insisted on performing the surgery right away and moved her off the “elective” list. Even that was delayed by the necessity of having a COVID test to make sure that Jill was negative and wouldn’t present a health hazard to the staff of the surgery center. That test had to take place five days pre-op.
Jill and Drew have been staying with us since the surgery last Thursday. As an adult, her anticipated healing time is 17 days and she won’t be cleared to return to work until then. Needless to say, this is just another modification in a long line of things that have changed as we all try to figure out the new normal.
I understand what Jill is going through. I was twenty five when I had my tonsils out and in a moment of poor judgment, I asked that the surgery be done under a local anesthetic. Not a good choice, I assure you… it has made for good stories throughout the years, but people cringe when I recount my experience in the OR. Thankfully, Jill made a better choice in being put out for the procedure. And she is years older than I was when I had mine done when she was a year old…
Tonsils can create all kinds of issues, especially with breathing and choking. It’s no fun to worry about being able to catch your breath and swallow… Through this whole episode, I have relived what I went through and it has been helpful in suggesting ways that Jill can feel better faster…
One of the first events in the Bible concerning breath and breathing is in the story of God creating Adam. It’s one of those familiar verses that we tend to glance over as we read about God and Adam. Most people don’t realize that one of the main themes of Genesis is about “forming” and “filling”. That having been said, God “formed” Adam from the dust of the ground and then “filled” him with the breath of life.
In fact, in the Greek, the word for breath is “pneuma” and it is from this word that we get words such as pneumatic and pneumonia in the English language. They all have to do with air… Theologians still debate whether Adam was created in the Garden of Eden or was placed there by God after he was created. In any event, God also created a mate for him. But that’s a different post…
Our verse for tonight is the verse where we are told that God filled Adam with His breath. Moses, the author of Genesis tells us, in Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (KJV) My encouragement tonight is that God has filled each of His believers with the Holy Spirit, just as He formed each of us before we were even born. My prayer is that we will always value the important of breathing and breath as it relates to our mortal life and eternal life with God through the acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each of us. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…