December 9: Fern and Avery, My Sister, Prayer for Healing

...Fern and Avery arrived, dragging a sled.  They coasted down the lane and out onto the frozen pond in the pasture.

For all of their bickering and arguments in Charlotte's Web, Fern and Avery truly love each other.  They are a typical sister and brother.  They annoy each other and care deeply about each other simultaneously.  That's pretty much the definition of family, I think.

I realized today that I haven't given any updates on my sister who's been having health problems these past few months.  Currently, she's house-bound, attached to a wound vac.  That's basically a machine that suctions out an open wound's drainage to combat infection.  My sister had another surgery a couple of weeks ago, and she's been battling nausea and more infection ever since.  I'd like to say she's getting better, but I haven't seen a whole lot of improvement.

So, tonight, I'm going to be the deeply caring brother, not the annoying one.  I'm asking you to pray for my sister's health.  I've never really seen her this . . . weak and dependent before.  Generally, she's always been a pretty independent woman.  Not so much at the moment.  And the thing that worries me the most is that she doesn't seem to really care all that much.  I don't see a whole lot of fight in her.

So, please, send some prayers and positive thoughts my sister's way.  She really needs them.

Saint Marty wants 2014 to end with happiness and healing for everybody.

 

Brotherly love and annoyance

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March 18: The Crickets, a Fire, Prayer for a Friend's Daughter

The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last forever.  Even on the most beautiful days of the whole year--the days when summer is changing into fall--the crickets spread the rumor of sadness and change.

Charlotte's Web is about sadness and change.  As the summer comes to an end, the threat to Wilbur's life is serious.  If Charlotte's plan doesn't work soon, Wilbur will be bacon by Thanksgiving.  The approach of autumn means a life and death struggle on the Zuckerman farm.

Last week, a good friend's daughter suffered a terrible loss.  In the middle of last Wednesday night, her house was completely destroyed by a fire.  She lost everything, including three cherished pets.  On Thursday morning, a bulldozer took down what was left of her home.  She has no clothes, no car, no shoes.  Nothing.  Her life is all sadness and change.

I'm asking you to say a little prayer for my friend's daughter.  Of course, the community is rallying around her.  Bringing her clothing and food and money.  But she is heartbroken and needs to be lifted up.  The material loss is nothing compared to emotional and spiritual loss.

So, as you finish reading this post, say a few words to God for her, if you're a praying person.  If not, send some positive thoughts her way.  Surround her with every kind of goodness.

Saint Marty has faith in you.

Fold your hands for my friend's daugfhter