"Sweet Hour of Prayer"

I can't believe it is already the month of August. The summer is almost over and I can say that I survived another summer in the desert. It has been so nice the last couple of days. I think it never got out of the 80's yesterday and it was cool again today, but don't worry it is suppose to be back up to 109 degrees by Thurs. We have gotten some good rain showers so the grass is really green and growing like crazy. Our roses still look really sad but as soon as it cools off they will be happy again.
Spencer started training camp today in Denver. Rich and I came home from church and got on the Internet to see what was going on in Bronco Country. Right off the bat they talked about two of their running backs who went down with injuries today, the first day of practice. I can't tell you how much I worry and pray constantly for that boy to survive these grueling practices. I know everyone thinks it would be easy to be a professional athlete, but I have seen the other side, and there is a huge risk with playing football. I remember when I took him to get his sports physical to play high school ball. The doctor looked me in the eyes and said, "are you sure you want him to play? The statistics show that 25 percent of all football players end up with a life altering injury." I was shocked, but that is what he loves and has chosen to do to support his little family. What can I do when he's that old and that big and strong?
I have been consumed with emotion about the news that I need a hip replacement. I have prayed and prayed to feel peace about this decision. When I wake up in the night that is all I can think about. I am so scared. I have let fear run my life for a long time now. When I was a teenager I was a typical "nothing can hurt me" kind of kid, but as I have taken a few hard knocks in life I have lost my ability to trust and have faith. My Dad told me the other day that I needed to just make a decision and tell the Lord this is what I'm going to do and then go for it. It is easy for him to say, but he isn't me, no one knows how I feel inside. I'm still hoping for a miracle, that one day I will wake up and the pain will be gone and I can walk normally. If a miracle doesn't happen I will be seeing the surgeon.
Life is hard and the older I get the harder it becomes. Today in church one of the hymns we sang was "Sweet Hour of Prayer." As I sang the words I could feel the love of my Heavenly Father. The words were, "Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! That calls me from a world of care And bids me at my Father's throne Make all my wants and wishes known. In seasons of distress and grief, My soul has often found relief And oft escaped the tempter's snare By thy return, sweet hour of prayer! I'm trying really hard to have faith that everything will work out for the best and know that I need the "sweet hour of prayer" now more than ever.