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PROGRAM D-8261
Do you ever feel like the whole world is coming in around you? As we continue our story of Fran and Jesus on the Job, Fran is struggling with life in general. This is an on-going story I tell periodically, as a way of reminding us to practice the presence of Jesus—to remember that he is with us at all times, and his strength and help are at our fingertips.
Today Fran is busily working at her desk when the phone rings, and Drew’s teacher is on the line. “Please don’t be alarmed, Mrs. Langley,” she says, “but we think you should get here as soon as possible. Drew had an accident and we think he should be taken to the hospital.”
“An accident?” Fran says, holding her breath. “What kind of accident? What’s wrong?”
“Well, the nurse thinks he may have broken his arm. Please don’t be alarmed; just come right away and take him to the hospital,” Drew’s teacher responds.
Hurriedly, Fran rushes out of the office, briefly explaining to her assistant where she’s going. “Oh, Lord,” Fran begins praying, “please protect Drew. Please keep him safe. Please. . .” The words are difficult to form. Mostly she just groans as she tries to pray.
She is reminded that the Spirit of God prays for her when she can’t form the words herself, and that Drew is in God’s care. This helps her to calm down.
As she gets to the school, she finds Drew in the nurse’s office. “Hi, mom,” he says, almost like nothing’s wrong.
“Drew, are you okay?” Fran rushes to his side.
“Yeah, I just fell on my hand trying to catch a fly ball. Sorry, Mom,” he says.
“Oh, honey, that’s okay. I’m. . . I’m just glad you’re okay,” she says as she hugs him. They get him in the car and she takes him to the emergency room where, indeed, he is diagnosed with a broken wrist.
“It’s a pretty clean break,” the doctor tells her, “so it should heal just fine. But he’s going to be off the ball field for a while.” Drew is not happy to hear that news.
As they drive home he says, “Mom, I can’t do anything with my right hand, can I? I can’t write or work at the computer or anything!” The reality of having his right hand in a cast is beginning to dawn on Drew—and on Fran, too. How’s she going to manage this new wrinkle in her life?