Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psa. 62:8

Spring came, but I was not getting better. Then one morning my parents read from John 9 about Jesus putting clay on a blind man’s eyes to heal him. Daddy knew of a basement dig nearby so went there and brought home some clay, which they packed onto my knee with fervent prayer. God heard their prayer of faith and used the clay to draw out the infection. The swelling went down and the ache stopped. No coincidence. No doubt!

Yet, nightmares plagued me and I woke up screaming several times a night, night after night. My parents asked the doctor what they could do for me. He told them to give me a little beer before bed. I still remember crying and pleading not to have to drink it. Mommy held my nose so I wouldn’t have to smell it as they forced me to drink it down. Not only did it taste terrible to me but wasn’t it also somewhere on someone’s sin list? However, the “sinful” stuff worked and the nightmares immediately decreased, then stopped. . . except for nights throughout my life when my polio-compromised nervous system became too overstimulated.

Mother was such a nurse! A doctor told her I should never get a bad chest cold because the encapsulated T.B. spot on my lung could break free and fatally enter a bone. So when I caught a cold, she made musteroll from mustard powder paste, rolled it inside a tea towel, and laid it on my chest. It heated until I could not stand it any longer, then she would take it off.

She also gave me vitamin and penicillin shots. She loved to help people with her nursing skills and gave other people shots too. I remember the little jar of alcohol in which she kept her needles. The vitamin shots were especially painful, especially with an old and dull needle! The penicillin shots left blue bruises on my bottom, but no doubt the shots rebuilt my strength.

That spring I spent many hours at my little desk where I drew princesses with long beautiful dresses and rooms with windows. Outside the windows I drew trees and clouds and flying birds. A teacher told my parents I was doing perspective drawing. I remember the praise and encouragement. However, when my drawing talents extended to decorate the staircase walls, spanks replaced praise in no uncertain terms.

I remember Daddy saying he loved me after one of such spankings down in the coal room, but I also remember I could not believe he could spank me if he loved me. I realize now that I was a strong willed child, so it was a good thing I got disciplined instead of coddled. However, God designed me with a strong will to survive illness, months of hospitalization, and probably a lot of other things too. Our God is good and wise. He equips us with what we will need even before we realize our neediness. I’ve also grown to realize that God disciplines those He deeply loves.

When summer came, I longed to roller skate with the other kids. Even though I had to wear my brace, I tried to skate. I remember the day I unlocked the little metal clasps at my knee so I could skate better. By the end of summer I was skating. . . at the tail end of all the other kids, but still skating. I remember the day Mommy threw the ugly brown shoes that connected to my brace in the garbage because I had outgrown them. They had become familiar, ugly as they were. Why do I remember an unexplained wistfulness to see them go? Perhaps so I could better share God’s faithfulness with you today. This chapter in my life had forever changed me.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3