An appointed time

The consultation appointment with the surgeon has finally been scheduled—and it's not until December 7! Considering that we learned about Jackson's life-threatening condition the first week in November, waiting a month for this appointment seems like an excruciatingly long time.

One reason for the delay is that Texas Children's Hospital is an extremely busy place (we are so blessed to have this world-renowned facility in Houston). Another reason is that although Dr. Fraser (the surgeon) and Dr. Jeffries (the cardiologist) have been consulting with each other, they still haven't determined the best course of action. As Dr. Jeffries put it, Jackson's case is a very difficult one.

Waiting isn't always easy, but God's timing is always perfect—never early, never late. We're praying for His will to be done in not only the type of surgery Jackson will have, but the exact day and time he will have it.

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Because of Jackson's limited abilities with spatial relations, he doesn't really have a concept of time. If you tell him that he's going somewhere tomorrow, a minute later he might "ask" to go by tapping the bottom of his foot and pointing at the door, then do it again two minutes later, over and over again. He just thinks enough time has passed for the thing to happen that he wants to happen.

I can relate. It's certainly not that I'm anxious for Jackson to be operated on—I just keep thinking of the precarious nature of his condition and want him "fixed" as soon as possible. And I want his pain to go away. (Kind of like Shirley MacLaine's character in Terms of Endearment screaming, "GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE SHOT!")

But I know that God has appointed the right time, so I'm trying to stop "tapping my foot" on the inside.