This post, I would just like to give an update how I have been doing since my surgery, which occurred about 4 months ago. Wow, time really flies fast!
For about a month after surgery, I had a very restful and unique time; I would even say I had a lot of ‘mystical’ experiences.
Yes, I have to say it was a few ‘supernatural/mystical ’ weeks for me, where I felt completely led by the Spirit. There were a couple of days I was actually conversing with God back and forth, during my sleep. I was waking up almost every night, around 2-3am, with lots of messages being slapped one after the other, that I had to start journaling in the night so I could try to remember them later. Even my testimony blogpost sprang from one such experience at 2 am in the night, where I was able to write the whole basic skeleton of the post in just about 20 minutes.
I also had several weeks of ‘supernatural rest’ where I was able to fall asleep in 1-2 minutes once I decide to, with a feeling of heaviness that was very calming, and being able to break out of it very energized as needed, even sometimes hearing myself breath loud during that time. So even though I was most days waking up at 2-3 am, I was still able to experience rest, on demand.
There were also lots of instances of healing and messages of healing; being promised to be healed by a certain time, and it actually happening! And also, soon as I start offering any small suffering I had for the souls in purgatory, in terms of headaches or visual problems, I was able to experience healing on most occasions even before I finished the sentence ‘I’m offering this small suffering for the souls in purgatory’. (In Roman Catholic doctrine, purgatory is a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven; It is also called the ‘Church Suffering’, who needs prayers from us on Earth, the ‘Church Militant’). I could also feel my breathing and respiration to be very different than normal, in a very calm manner. There were several instances where I had palpitations or shortness of breath, and when I start focusing on God rather than the misery, it immediately subsided.
The messages I received at night included clarity on ways to simplify life further, and the great thing was that I was able to act on most of those. For example, once in a while I would have bouts of energy where I was able to declutter 2 big 35 gallon trash bags in about 10 minutes! We had many of those trash bags leave our house, for donation; something I may not have done so fast previously. The difference this time was that I was depending solely on God, and He was showing me what to keep and what to let go, and it went so fast! Lot and lot of things I had on my ‘to-do one day’ list actually got accomplished in that 1 month(physical/digital decluttering, streamlining systems, organizing in general, home mini makeovers etc), despite my physical limitations! I learned very well that when we are yoked to God, and receive nourishment from Him, we can do all things through Christ, who gives us the strength. I also believe I had received the gift of tears during that time, as it was hard for me to finish my personal prayer without feeling overwhelmed by His love.
I was able to sense God working in even the most minute details of my life. There was also an instance when I was feeling little down that day, but got a very timely and uplifting message from my medical college friend from 20 years ago!
While attending mass one of the first weeks after surgery, from my bed, online, on the Feast of Transfiguration, the homily message spoke directly to me and was very relevant to my current situation, that I knew I had received the Gift of Transfiguration- God revealed himself to me, and he gave His gift of Divine Love!
The ‘mystical’ elements slowly waned off and lasted for only a month. But I am still able to experience a lot of grace, and I thank God for offering me such a unique experience! It was truly incredible, and so different from how I normally function. It was a month truly led completely by the Spirit!
I just wanted to share an entry from my journal.
I have been, with God’s grace, back to routine activities starting 2 months after surgery, with cooking, driving (after being tapered off the anti-seizure meds), homeschooling, and regular household duties. We even made a small plane trip, to Virginia, to visit my sister and family, as Anup had his pediatric conference at DC this year. It’s one of the first times, we all went together on a plane, other than to India. And that too, the last time we all went together to India was when our 6th was a baby. So yes, it was a very different experience, and everyone loved it.
It’s also been 3 months since Anita left for college. Though the 5 older boys are perfectly helpful and capable of taking care of our youngest 3 girls, I guess it is a little different when you have an older girl in the house. ☺ But God continues to shower the grace we need for this new season of our life. Anup has been very busy recently, with different ministries. With Anita not home, all the driving fell back on me, with different groups of kids having to be taken to different activities on different days. Between all kids, this year we have signed up for art class, archery, piano, science classes at a ranch, coding (online), as well as soccer, chess and carroms, for a tournament, for 3 age groups! But I’m actually enjoying it very much (at least for now), as I get to talk and bond with them in the van, and then get time of solitude for myself while waiting to pickup. Plus the weather has been very good recently, after the long 3 months of intense summer we had. We also have the Troops of St George, which is a father-led Catholic scouts program, that Anup takes them for.
My brother-in-law was commenting that after the surgery, I have become even faster, almost like the rapid pulsation of a sewing machine needle! I have been for the most part, very energetic, though some days I do have aches and pains, and low energy, which I have learned to offer for the souls in purgatory.
I am extremely grateful for all of you who kept praying for me all these months, and continue to do so. You guys are the best!
May God bless you!
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I’m so moved and inspired by your submission to God’s will and your experiences of His love. Thanks for sharing chechi!
Thank you Jija!
God Bless!