Seeing that I did not had the privilege of attending the Service of Thanksgiving for the restoration of the Chief Minister’s health, little over a week ago, I’d like to publicly declare my expressions of gratitude to God for a successful surgery and for his providential healing. It is always befitting to give thanks, especially when the case is as significant as the blessings of a properly functioning transplanted kidney.

James R. Harrigan

Knowing the Honourable Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming and the administration that surrounds him, I would not have expected anything thing less than a public Thanksgiving Service following his recovery and a long awaited arrival back home. Giving of thanks is always in order. There is no substitute for a grateful heart.

There was a group of ten lepers in days of old, when Jesus was down here, whom He had healed of their chronic disease by the mere sound of his powerful voice. With a total lack of consideration, the men took it for granted and went on their merry way, overwhelmed with the great relief which their instant healing had afforded. The Master was disappointed, however, when only one out of the ten returned to express his gratitude. On the contrary, we are overwhelmed with ardent thankfulness, and God continues to favor a grateful people.

I reflect upon the night of July 18th. It was the eve of the Chief Minister’s appointment to undergo surgery the following morning. A modest crowd of us had gathered in the Bethel Methodist Church to implore God’s divine healing touch upon the Chief’s life. We had prayed fervently that He would direct the hands and minds of the surgeons and the operating-room team, so that the operation would go well, void of flaws or any failure. We sang assuring songs, declared our appreciation for the CM, and in faith we prayed with sincere hearts – some of us even taking to teary eyes.

Standing on the pulpit next to the moderator Mrs. Hoyoung, I was elated to assist her in leading the singing. It was not exactly a vigil of sorts, but I felt extremely heartened to see so many people of our community come together. We, accompanied by His Excellency Governor George, flanked by several government dignitaries, had all assembled to express our faith in God through prayers on behalf of an honourable trusting patient who would have been subject to the “knife” on the morrow.

I was especially touched by the inspiring song that Special Assistant, Donna Banks requested me to sing. It was one entitled “I Am The Lord That Healeth Thee”, and to me, the theme of that tune had transcended every other song, statement, or prayer. At the end of it, we could have almost gone home at once, for deep within I felt that God was in control, and His mighty hand had already visited the Chief’s very being.

While the vigil took its course, most everybody’s thoughts and attention were centered on our patriotic Chief. But alas, it was at length that Permanent Secretary Foster Rogers took the podium. His first statement changed the stage, and he made us all shift our attention away from the Chief to focus our thoughts and prayers upon the donor. Needless to say, we did not know her back then. In fact, very few of us knew whether this generous kidney contributor was male or female. But Foster led us to pray specifically for her, realizing that she too would have to undergo surgery. After all, without one as caring and sharing as her, the whole plan for any meaningful operation would have been void.

So then, on behalf of all of Anguilla, I wish to express a hearty note of thanks to this kind and courageous young lady, Ms. Ineke Williams. By donating one of her precious organs to our national leader, Ineke has demonstrated that her heart is just as caring and compassionate as she is charming and beautiful. Her invaluable gift indicates a beauty that comes from within – the kind of beauty that is not just “skin-deep.” All things considered, therefore, we are sincerely grateful to you, Ineke.

Good health is, of course, one of life’s most priceless treasures. It is what we wish to be blessed with throughout the full course of our lives. In fact, without sound health life could be tragically shortened or that much dwarfed. It is so good to know that we as a people, along with our CM, trust in God for the restoration of health in times of illness, and we turn Him thanks for restored health upon our healing.

Health! We can’t thrive without it. It puts me in mind of an old recitation that I use to hear the old-time “serenaders” rattling off ‘round Christmas time. It goes like this: “I wish you health, I wish you wealth, I wish you a golden store; I wish you Heaven after death, what can I wish you more?”

Gratefully, I wish to join with all well-meaning Anguillians to sincerely render to God due credit and thanks for the blessings of health bestowed upon our Chief Minister. May he endure from strength to strength, and I’d like to assure him that I wish him all the high merits of that old timeless “serenaders” recitation – “I wish you health.”

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