Michelle stared at her mother, Alice, unable to take in what she just said. She tried to sit up, but her head swam.

            “Here, let me help you.” Alice raised the hospital bed so Michelle was in a sitting position.

            “Can you repeat what you just said? I think I must still be a little confused.”
            “Oh, honey, you were in a car accident. You’ve been in a coma for a little over 6 months now. We’ve been worried sick. The doctors weren’t sure you were ever going to wake up. But we prayed and prayed, and here you are.”

            Michelle blinked and took in her surroundings. The hospital room was divided in two by a thin blue curtain. Her side of the room was decorated with colorful crayon drawings from her students, no doubt.

            “Is Edward coming to visit?”

            Alice grimaced. “No. He took a transfer with his job. He’s living in Ireland now.”

            “What?” Michelle’s head started pounding. “My boyfriend moved to Ireland? He didn’t stay to see how I was doing?”

            Alice squeezed Michelle’s hand. “I’m so sorry. He was here day and night for the first couple of weeks, but as time wore on, I think he lost hope. The job transfer was a way for him to deal with the grief of losing you.”
            “But I’m fine.” Michelle took inventory. Arms, legs… she wiggled her fingers and toes. Yep, all there. “Wow. Edward left me. That really stinks.”
            “I’m sorry, dear.”

            “So it’s what, April now? The last thing I remember was Thanksgiving. Dennis had brought his girlfriend home to meet you for the first time. I remember really connecting with her.”

            “They broke up.”

            “Oh.”

            “What else do you remember?”
            “I remember my classroom. I was just getting the decorations ready for Christmas.”

            “They had to replace you with another teacher who’s taken over your class. Christmas is long past.”

            Michelle let that sink in for a minute, then more questions came. “What about my apartment? And Oscar?”

            Alice let go of Michelle’s hand. “You have to understand, dear. They gave us no guarantees you’d ever wake up. Money is tight, and…”

            “You couldn’t pay the rent on the apartment.” Michelle shook her head. “And Oscar?”

            “A lovely young family adopted him. He now has two kids to play with. We put most of your things in the garage or the basement. You can get a new apartment, and a new dog.”

            “And a new job, and new boyfriend? Mom, my head is killing me. Could I get a drink of water?”

            “Of course, dear.” Alice poured a cup for Michelle and handed it to her. “The doctor said you should take it slow. Why don’t you try to get some rest? Or would you like me to get something from the cafeteria for you? Maybe a pastry or something? I’m sure they’ll be by with a meal soon, but…”
            “I’d love a piece of fruit,” Michelle said.

            Alice brightened, clearly pleased to be able to do something to help.

            Michelle squeezed her eyes shut, trying to process everything her mother had told her. She wasn’t hungry, but needed some time alone. In the past 6 months, she’d lost her boyfriend, her job, her apartment, and her dog. Probably her car, too, since it was a car accident that had brought her here. Nothing in her life was the same. There was nothing she could count on. Even her mother looked different. Grayer, more wrinkled… probably from the stress of her being hospitalized.

            Michelle reopened her eyes and her gaze landed on the table next to the bed. There sat a familiar shape. Her Bible. She reached over and opened it to the page marked by the ribbon. She read through the text. Psalm 102. Yes. This was what she read that last morning. The day after Thanksgiving. It was clear now. She read through the Psalm and her heart thudded when she reached verse 27.

Psalm 102: 26-27

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.  But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

            She blinked back tears. No matter what other changes happened in life, God remained the same. The comfort in reading those words surrounded her and filled her with peace. Sure, she had a long road ahead of her, but God had always been faithful and would continue to be.

 Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Lord God, there is little we can count on in this world. Our bodies change, our relationships change, our jobs change. Loved ones move away or pass away. Thank You for always being there for us. Your love for us is the one thing we can count on in life. Help us to remember to always put our trust in You, the one unfailing constant in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.