The pastor asked if anyone in the congregation would like to express praise for
answered prayers. Suzie Smith stood and walked to the podium. She said, "I
have a praise. Two months ago, my husband, Ted had a terrible bicycle wreck and
his scrotum was completely crushed. The pain was excruciating and the doctors
didn't know if they could help him." You could hear a muffled gasp from the men
in the congregation as they imagine the pain that poor Ted must have
experienced. "Ted was unable to hold me or the children," she went on, "and
every move caused him terrible pain." We prayed as the doctors performed a
delicate operation, and it turned out they were able to piece together the
crushed remnants of Ted's scrotum, and wrap wire around it to hold it in place."
Again, the men in the congregation cringed and squirmed uncomfortably as they
imagined the horrible surgery performed on Ted. "Now," she announced in a
quivering voice, "thank the Lord, Ted is out of the hospital and the doctors say
that with time, his scrotum should recover completely." All the men sighed with
unified relief. The pastor rose and tentatively asked if anyone else had
something to say.
A man stood up and walked slowly to the podium.
He said, "I'm Ted Smith." The entire congregation held its breath. "I just want
to tell my wife the word is sternum."