Yvonne Ortega has experienced many life struggles, and God has taught her many transferable truths that she shares with others. As we head toward Thanksgiving, many are hurting with great losses or are in crisis situations—and it may be difficult to be grateful. But in this Gratitude UPGRADE, Yvonne reminds us there are always ways to express our gratitude to God and cope with trials with His help.
“On a 6:00 a.m. Thursday phone call to Aunt Bertha, my head swirled at her update," Yvonne said.
"‘Hospice will bring the oxygen machine today to our senior community suite and show me how to use it for Arthur (my uncle).’”
Like almost everyone, I (Dawn) never want to get a phone call like that. We hate to hear that those we love are not doing well. But even in times like that, there are positive things we can do. Yvonne reminds us that gratitude is a choice!
Yvonne continues . . .
Uncle Arthur has been a second father to me. I needed to travel north to see him.
Aunt Bertha said, “He’s lost 70 pounds and can’t eat or sleep.”
With the Thanksgiving season upon me, how could I be grateful?
1. I Prayed for Favor.
When Nehemiah faced a crisis, he wept, fasted, and prayed.
He said,
Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night (Nehemiah 1:5-6).
I needed divine favor with TSA-precheck. I looked at the online form to complete and froze. I didn’t know how to answer half the questions.
My heartbeat heightened, and my stomach fluttered.
How could I fly without TSA-precheck with those dreaded airport security lines? How could I arrive in time to help the family?
As I dialed the TSA-precheck phone number, my fingers trembled; but God used a gracious lady to help me until I printed my payment confirmation.
“Thank you, God.”
2. I Sang to the Lord.
This may sound strange, but the Bible mentions many who sang in crisis.
The psalmist said,
I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me (Psalm 13:6).
Tears glistened on my blouse collar, but I sang.
My hair looked like a shaggy dog in need of a master hair stylist like Susan. Once up north, time wouldn’t permit a haircut.
On Friday morning I called Susan to confirm an appointment, a new person answered the phone.
“This is Yvonne Ortega,” I said. “I’m calling about my appointment at 1:00 pm with Susan."
She paused and said, “Susan dropped dead in the salon two weeks ago. Everyone thought she fainted. When Susan didn’t regain consciousness, they called the Emergency Rescue Squad. They tried everything, but she died instantly of an aneurysm.”
“Lord, God, how much more?”
I fell to my knees and sobbed.
God comforted me and seemed to whisper, “Continue to sing, Yvonne.”
In a state of shock, I walked through the house on Friday, pulled out boots, gloves, and clothes for a trip to a colder climate. With a background of praise and worship music in Spanish, I sang through tears.
No one at the salon was available for three weeks. So, I found another hair stylist and obtained her only appointment all week.
A look in the mirror after a beautiful haircut reminded me of Psalm 89:1.
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations (Psalm 89:1).
3. I Reached Out with Hope.
I needed to confirm that my uncle knew the Lord and would go to heaven.
Part of my aunt’s conversation came to mind.
"Arthur didn’t talk anymore, wore a stronger pain patch, took morphine, and slept most of the time.”
A friend reminded me that the last sense to go is hearing. I called, told my aunt to hold the phone close to his ear, and I spoke to him.
“Uncle Arthur, this is your niece, Yvonne. If you can hear me and agree with what I say, blink your eyes. If you agree with my prayer at the end, blink your eyes.”
When I finished my prayer, Aunt Bertha said, “I couldn’t hear what you said to Arthur, but he sure blinked his eyes a lot.”
I hadn’t heard sweeter words of confirmation in a long time.
A burning desire to be with my family lingered. However, a storm in Virginia flooded the area around both airports. Early morning fog didn’t help.
I couldn’t get there.
Stranded at home, I had a generator, electricity, running water, and food—but not my loved ones. I called my aunt to check on the family.
“Our son Art noticed that Arthur sat slumped in the lift chair, which constricted his lungs," my aunt said. "Art bought a large pillow at Walmart to see if that would help Arthur breathe better.
"Now he can breathe on his own, talk, and eat. He can walk in the senior community without his walker. It’s a miracle.”
Because of his serious health complications, my uncle can’t leave the facility. However, God has brought him through one more crisis.
David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets (2 Samuel 6:14–15).
My shouts and dancing before the Lord may have exceeded David’s.
What will you be grateful for this Thanksgiving?
Yvonne Ortega walks with a small footprint but leaves a giant imprint in 
people’s lives. She is the author of the Moving from Broken to Beautiful® 
Series through cancer, forgiveness, and grief. Yvonne speaks with honesty and humor as she helps women who face challenges even when they feel overpowered. She celebrates life at the beach where she walks, builds sand castles, blows bubbles, and dances. Learn more about Yvone on her webpage.
Graphic adapted, courtesy of Fernando Zhiminaicela at Pixabay