This post is a temporary break from writing about the one-year anniversary of my wife’s homegoing.
When I discovered I had an inguinal hernia I researched non-surgical options. I bought hernia belts and they worked. I never had a surgery in my life! Doctors scared me and told me hernias do not heal themselves and there was the danger of strangulation. After a few scary episodes with the hernia (due to manageable mistakes), I decided to have surgery. One of the reasons I decided to have hernia surgery is because I think the Holy Spirit spoke to me from Philippians 2. For Jesus to sympathize with us in our flesh weaknesses as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:15), He had to become flesh (John 1:14), be made in the likeness of men (Phil. 2:7). He had to experience being human, physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering. Jesus felt it all, from bleeding sweat to horrific scourging to the agony of being pierced by iron spikes.
I have several people in my church who have suffered surgeries. I prayed for them, but I really couldn’t empathize with them. I couldn’t say, “I feel your pain.” (As a chaplain, I say this to spouses who have lost spouses because my wife went to heaven 8/5/2025.) I feel the anxiety of pre-op and post-op. Now I know what it feels like! I have tasted the fear. I have weathered sleepless anxiety. Now I can more than sympathize, I can empathize with the surgery survivors in my church. “I know what you are feeling. I’ve been there and survived by God’s mercy and grace. So will you. Let’s pray.”
Day 4 after surgery I am starting to regret it. This is due to the pain. I’m thinking, “I really didn’t need the surgery. I am turning 70. I could’ve lived the rest of my time in this world without it. I’ve been managing it with diet and hernia belt. I allowed fear of it to push me to surgery. Faith didn’t overcome fear.” (Note: D4 most of the acute pain has subsided and I stopped the prescription pain meds.) Why regret my decision? It’s done. Regret is useless. Regret only adds confusion. I need mental and emotional clarity. I need to exercise faith in the goodness of God. I need to move forward. I need to work on a recovery plan so I can get back to serving the LORD.
I will write more about my post-op and lessons from the LORD. As 8/5/2026 approaches I will return to my wife’s one-year homegoing anniversay.
Wilenghart’s Wisdom 