Calling Pastor Jerry

Yesterday was Pastor Jerry's birthday. I called him after work to wish him a Happy Birthday for the first time. I had a feeling that would be a good present for him. *smile* I've been trying to call special people on their birthdays this year instead of sending them a card. (Sometimes I send a card anyway!) Pastor Jerry has always been difficult for me to understand. He has a pretty good Tennessee accent and his lips don't move very much. It hasn't been easy for me to understand him, especially when he is preaching in the pulpit. But, now my CI allows me to pick up what he is saying when I cannot read his lips. We had a terrible connection and I had to call him back twice. There was so much static on the line and his voice kept cutting out on me but we were able to talk a little bit. I could just picture him smiling on the other end! This is the same man who wept at his computer a year ago when I sent him an email telling him how I could hear soda fizzing over ice for the first time. He was thrilled when I shared the news about the approval for my second implant. He wanted to know the details of when I was going to have surgery and said he was so happy to hear the news. I also shared with him that I was unworthy of God's grace and didn't deserve it. I told him that I knew that God has a reason why He answering my prayers to hear better. If I had been able to hear earlier, I probably would not have appreciated His goodness. I would have just taken my hearing for granted. I just hope people don't get tired of hearing my "story" but I love being able to hear after not being able to all these years! It is my prayer that my story will encourage someone else who is struggling for whatever reason. Pastor Jerry told me to remember the verse from Romans 8 where Paul says "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose." Yes, God has a purpose and a plan for everything!