First of all I think you ought to know that I am no chicken. I am 79 years young.
My early life
I was reared in a loving Christian home. My early schooling was at a Church primary school of about 100 scholars in standards 1 to 7. When you reached standard 7 you were then about 13 years of age and we hope intelligent enough to get some work.
It was there I learned the 3 R's and quite a bit about God as we had scripture lessons every morning. So much for my early background. The rest of my life has always been connected with the church or chapel, but often with the feeling that there was more to it than singing hymns and listening to sermons and sometimes having an evangelistic preacher who would call people to give their lives to Jesus.
Arthritis
Thus life went on, sometimes hot, sometimes cold, and then I contracted Rheumatoid arthritis in my shoulders, arms and hands. and entered hospital in April 1986. After about three to four weeks I was allowed to go home. I still had to attend the hospital as an outpatient for blood samples etc. and at various intervals to see the consultant himself.
Sometime early in 1987 my son called and said "You are nothing like you were last autumn. You are only about half the chap you were then". And of course I said I was OK, but my son insisted that if I did not tell the consultant at my next appointment how I was feeling, he would come with me and tell the doctor himself. So I promised that I would do as he asked and as a result I was back in hospital on 1st June 1987 for investigation.
In hospital
It was investigation with a capital I - X rays, chest scans, stomach scans, samples of bone marrow, and I don't know what else, with the result I was feeling very rough after it all. On top of all this I had no appetite.. all that I could manage was something easy to swallow like soup, porridge or rice pudding.
I have always believed that God meant man to be whole and healthy and have a great faith in his healing. I would lay awake in my bed questioning why he did not work a miracle and heal me there and then. I had not the slightest doubt that it was possible, but it was not to be yet, and perhaps it was now I began to see a purpose in it all. I had to learn to be patient.
My impatience
Impatience I think is one of my greatest sins. At the least provocation if things did not go right first time I would explode and blow my top. Then I would be sorry about it all. Now I began to await His time but I still wanted to hurry things up and He would say "Cool it child.. my timing is exact, never too early and never too late. Be patient"
Thus whilst the medical staff struggled to find the right treatment for their patient and whilst all the prayers for my recovery were being offered, my Heavenly Father must have said, "It will be tonight. For eight weeks my child has been experimented upon, but tonight he will go to bed one person but when he wakes he will be a different person altogether."
The transformation
And so it came to pass on the night of 27th-28th July 1987 I went to bed one person and arose a different one. I was made whole. My heart melted. My eyes overflowed. Oh what joy, what rapture, what bliss. I could not believe it yet it was so. Marvelous, glorious liberty. It was springtime in late autumn for me. Praise the Lord. Great is his faithfulness.
I thought I must still look the same physically - just skin and bone, however this transformation of Grace must have shown outwardly. All the ward were saying "What has happened to him?" and the nursing staff were delighted.
I astounded the doctors
The doctors were astounded. Their problem patient was at last made whole and their skills at last bore fruit. All my praying friends prayers were answered and I am going on with my Heavenly Father learning to be more patient. One nurse said to me "I wish I could bottle what you've got and give some to Albert" (Albert was a patient who seemed to make no progress at all.) I said " You cannot bottle this. It is free to whosoever will come."
So whoever you may be, come and seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you, ask and it will be given to you, be you 9 or 90.
Joe made a good recovery and lived for many more years after this spiritual rebirth experience in 1987. He was always telling this story of his amazing healing thanks to God's amazing grace and he wanted me to share it with you all.
