The theme for today is: Daily Bread.
We’ve been excited to see Zach “graduate” to different levels of eating and drinking. Broth. Juice. Milk. Water. Tea. Pudding. Diced peaches. Ice cubes. Apple sauce. Food! Real food!
We can take food for granted. We can take God’s daily provision for granted. Jesus knew this. That’s why He reminds us that, “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). He reminds us to pray for food. To pray for provision. “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). A simple yet profound petition. Give us. Not give me. Give today. Today is sufficient. Tomorrow can wait. Give daily bread. Give what we need and not what we want. Give provision.
This short petition is all about provision. God’s provision. It reminds us that our daily bread comes from places and sources that God has providentially and supernaturally intended. Our bodies are totally dependent on God to function well. To run well.
We thank God for blessing Zach with daily bread, with daily provision, so he can run the race with perseverance. The daily feeds, meds, care, broth, juice, milk, water, tea, pudding, diced peaches, ice cubes and apple sauce. What provision! What a petition!
This petition reminds us to simplify life. To pray for the simple things. The basic things. To pray for what we need and only what we need. Give us today our daily bread. Words that point us to God’s provision. Words that help us live well. Words that help us pray well. Words that help us run well.
Today’s Updates:
On Sunday night, the nurses found Zach on the floor of his room. This is the second time that Zach has fallen out of bed during the night on this unit. We’re not sure why he’s falling out of bed, it could be because something is making him scared or agitated so that he slides himself out of bed. They’ve made some adjustments to his bed to hopefully protect him from future falls. Please pray that Zach will feel safe and peaceful, especially when he is alone at night. Zach has occasionally become agitated this week during nursing care as well. Please pray that he will be calm and that God will restore his ability to communicate so that he can tell us what is wrong.
Zach got to try out a power wheelchair during his physiotherapy session on Thursday. He’s controlling the chair with his right arm, but because of the way the controls are set up, it is difficult for him to move the wheelchair forward and keep his arm from slipping off the control. Please pray that Zach will be more successful in future sessions with the power chair and that he will be able to become more independent in his movement. Zach also got his regular wheelchair adjusted this week to make it fit him a bit better. Please join us in thanking God for the many people working to help Zach be more comfortable and mobile.
Zach is now enjoying more variety in his tray items that he gets at every meal. He has been enjoying different kinds of juice and broth, coffee, tea, and popsicles. During speech therapy, Zach has been eating pudding and diced peaches, which he really enjoys. We are hoping that Zach will be officially cleared to receive puréed foods and puddings on his meal tray next week. Please pray that Zach will be able to eat and drink more every day and that he will enjoy his meals. In speech therapy, Zach tried feeding himself some applesauce with a spoon that was fastened to his left hand or right wrist, but this was quite a challenge for Zach. Please pray that Zach’s motor control and coordination will continue to improve and that he will be able to feed himself independently one day.
Speech therapy is trying out some eye-tracking technology to allow Zach to communicate. Zach still has lots to learn with the eye-tracking technology. He sometimes has trouble realizing that his eyes are controlling the tablet and will try to reach with his arms instead. He will also get distracted easily while using the eye-tracking tablet, so it becomes hard for him to select things on the tablet since he’s not looking at them for long enough. Please pray that Zach’s ability to communicate will improve and that he will get better at using the eye-tracking technology and other communication methods available to him.
Please pray for Zach’s continued healing and improvement. Pray especially that God will heal his brain and restore his ability to function in some of his daily tasks. Pray also that God will restore his ability to speak and communicate clearly.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you needbefore you ask him.
This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
(Matthew 6:5-13)
