choking on a chicken bone

It was a scary moment.

While eating our delicious dinner last night, one I slaved over (if one can slave when cooking in a crock-pot) something very unexpected and frightening occurred. My husband swallowed a small piece of chicken bone.

Now, I have to say that when you cook any meat in a crock-pot, the meat literally MELTS off the bone! I had thrown in 2 frozen chicken hind quarters that morning along with a jar of sweet n' sour sauce. It smelled divine! I scooped out the tender juicy meat shaking the bones to the bottom of the pot, taking only the meat to the platter. Or so I thought. Only a few bites into the meal, my husband suddenly looked stricken!

He croaked out "Chicken bone stuck in my throat."

I laid down my fork and waited. He tried unsuccessfully to dislodge it with his fingers... the bone was too far back in his throat... but upon suggesting it, not so far back that a Heimlich maneuver was the answer. I stood up, unsure of what to do to help him. He did some not so pretty coughing and-- um-- well--- retching is probably the best way to describe it but that bone wasn't moving. He could breathe and he could talk but he could feel the bone poking the sides of his throat and he felt the need to swallow, knowing if he did it would send the bone down further, which is NOT the direction we wanted it to go.

I felt very helpless and I know Bruce was feeling helpless too. I laid one hand on his back and prayed simply but strongly for Jesus to intervene. I don't even really remember what I said but what matters is that Jesus heard me. In the next second a gagging cough expelled the wretched bone.

It was just a tiny tiny bone, a fragment of one actually, but it had a very pointy end and it had lodged sideways in his throat. We shuddered over the what could have been and gave swift praise to God for delivering him from something life threatening.

I am aware of so many loved ones around me struggling with issues bigger and scarier than a chicken bone. I feel like I could be on my knees in prayer from sunup to sundown. I find myself breathing short little puffs of prayer as a name comes to mind. I don't know how God will work things out but I am sure that He is listening. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love... as it says in Romans 8:38... neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.

and another wonderful promise just 10 verses above this one.... 
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

I am trusting in His promises. which means that...

neither chicken bones nor mission trips, neither financial security, nor lost wages, neither having sure answers nor facing unknowns will separate us from the Love of God. Whether I understand it or not, whether I have solid answers or walk in blind faith, God has my best interest -- and yours-- at heart.