The night before my surgery I received a phone call. The caller was somewhat muffled so I wasn't actually certain of who was calling me. They asked me how I was feeling. Then they asked me something else that I couldn't quite understand. I told them I was having a difficult time understanding them. "Just a minute" they said and after some rustling on the other end of the phone they got back on. "Sorry, I just got a waterproof cover for my phone." Oh! Now I recognized that voice. :) It was my Stake president. (For those not of the LDS faith he is the leader over 11 local congregations [wards], which form a Stake) We talked a bit about my surgery and he let me know he would continue to pray for me. He also told me his sister-in-law was having the same surgery on the same day as me. He called and talked to Joe after my surgery. His sister-in-law was also not doing well with pain management. I felt it was so thoughtful of him to take the time to check up on me.
Last Sunday was Stake conference (twice a year conference with all 11 wards). I was sitting with my family in the second row. I told Joe I wanted to go tell the Stake president thank you for the calls but I had a feeling I would get too emotional. When the Stake president got up to start the meeting he saw me sitting there. He got a huge smile on his face, waved at me and gave me a thumbs up. Totally made me smile and tear up. After the meeting he came down from the stand to greet me. He told me it was miraculous to see me there and looking so well. He asked if he could give me a gentle hug. I told him I had my armor (back brace) on so it wouldn't hurt. Then he wanted to introduce me to his wife. He tried to get her attention in the crowd. We chatted a bit more about how I was doing and then headed towards his wife. She was so wonderful! She told me she had said many prayers for me and my recovery. Getting teary eyed again, I gave her a hug. I asked about her sister (who has been really up and down in her recovery). It was a brief interaction but I felt so touched by their concern and love for me. I have had interactions with him before and always felt his sincere love for me as part of a whole group. But on these occasions out of the thousands of people in his "flock" how wonderful it felt that he reached out to me personally.
As I pondered this experience I felt encompassed by love. I felt a stronger realization of my Father in Heaven's love for me. He knows me. He is aware of my needs. He inspires many people to reach out to help and serve me. They are Christ's hands in my life.
(Awesome message about being Christ's hands) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/you-are-my-hands?lang=eng
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