As Genie and I usually do on a Sunday, if home, we attend Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. We found out that Judy Olson was sharing her journey and the miracles she saw and received along the way, so after church we went to her presentation at West Freeborn Lutheran. She even added humor.
As Judy told her story, there was special music by Emma Evans Peck and Mariah Huffman.
Judy told of her first miracle as a very young child, with the removal of an eye and the replacement of a glass eye due to a form of cancer.
A number of years went by with marriage to Larry Olson and three children.
There was another form of cancer, and both breasts were removed. Once again, a miracle as she survived cancer-free.
Later, there was ovarian cancer. An ovary was removed and the remaining one was covered in scar tissue.
After becoming quite ill with bowel obstruction, a tube was inserted through her nose to remove the brown bowel waste. A tickle in her throat, followed by a slight cough, resulted in the tube coming out in her lap. Judy was rushed to the emergency room and there the doctors wanted to put the tube back in. The family asked for a CAT scan and the doctors said no, it was a waste of time and money. Larry said he would pay for it if insurance didn’t. The doctors reluctantly consented. The scan was normal, so Judy was sent home. The result? Another miracle. The bowel is working as Judy is now passing gas and the family says, “Yeah.”
Judy ended her miracle saga with her reading of “The Dash” by Linda Ellis.
“I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.
“He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
“For a dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that line is worth.
“For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? You never know how much time is left to rearrange.
“To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
“If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile….remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
“So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash….would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?”
The reading was followed by a standing ovation from a full house with nary a dry eye.
Judy, you are most certainly a miracle of God.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.