This
is the transcript of a testimony that Judi (Larson) McAlexander
shared at the Alumni of the 60s reunion in Sedro-Woolley, Washington on
July 26, 2008.
"I had the opportunity to share
about my medical situation at a recent Bible study. In case you
haven’t heard I had a cerebral AVM, an arteriovenous
malformation. This occurs in less than1% of people. Simply
put: It produces defects of the circulatory system that are generally
believed to arise during embryonic or fetal development or soon after
birth. They are comprised of snarled tangles of arteries and
veins. I had that, with a blood vessel pulling blood out of a
major artery. When I found out something was wrong, about 2 years ago,
they tried to fix it. It didn’t work, so a year ago I had the
surgery—which should have gotten rid of the problem--unfortunately for
me, I hemorrhaged. They did not know if I would ever speak again.
During
my life, I never felt like I was very spiritual, though I wanted to be.
It wasn’t until I was a late teen that I finally realized I might not
go to the bad place. Enjoying my time at Northwest, I still felt
I could never measure up. I would observe the truly “spiritual” girls
and wish I could be them, but I wasn’t. I was serving the Lord,
the best I could, but I felt like there was nothing special about my
life. I loved to sing, and still do.
When I first
got married, I tried to live, on the fence, if you will. Being so
protected and naive, I slowly became more and more accepting of things
that were questionable. What was so wrong with this? What was so
wrong with that? I loved the Lord, but what was the big
deal?? Things happened in life with friends, church and
work. During this whole time, I was still talking to God, but
also allowing other thoughts in. I tried a few things that I
would never have tried. What was so wrong?? Yet even then,
there was a little place, way back that I knew I was not doing
right. Through all this, when I look back, God was there,
it was me that wasn’t.
As time went on, God began to
bring me back to where I needed to be with him. No, I did not
become an evangelist, or missionary. No, I did not go out on the
corner and preach the gospel. I just became myself, flaws and
all. When an opportunity arose, I tried to be a testimony. I
tried to share and be available. I listened and did what I
could.
Has my life been outstanding? No way!
Yet through all the experiences, I can see how God has lead me.
Working at a Muslim school (that’s another whole story, but God put me
there) I was an example of what a true Christian is like. God
brought another Christian and we were examples together. They
didn’t try to convert me, nor I them. But when given a chance, I
would speak up about my faith and beliefs. They noticed.
The public school job opened at the right time.
All the
various people who I’ve come in contact with, or who have been in my
life, have had some reason. Do I know the reasons? No I
don’t, but God does. Maybe one day, I will find out.
When
you are wandering and think you will be just fine, there is a little
spot, somewhere, that continues to press you. Perhaps I needed to
go through some of those things to know where I really stand. And
I do know where I stand. I stand before God, through his son,
Jesus. I know that God loved me even when I didn't wish to
see it. I guess there are those people who can preach or teach
anyone, anywhere, but for the rest of us, God uses us in ways we never
would have thought, or imagined or dreamed. I think of my
mother. She was a preacher’s wife, church organist, Sunday
school teacher, head of women’s ministries, and girls ministries.
She was a sewer, and a giver. She didn’t spend a lot of
time praying or reading the Bible, yet her life was only for the
Lord. She was a DOER.
Think back on the experiences you’ve had. It is just sooooo amazing
what God can do!!!
I am healing, and though on disability, I can still work for the Lord."
