About four o'clock this morning someone knocked on my apartment door. I heard it but thought it must be for someone else. As I lay awake wondering if I had imagined it, the knocking started again, but this time it was alittle louder. I thought to myself, "That's my door! But an ax murderer wouldn't knock on my door, he would just break it down. I'd better answer it!" (Yes, I had this entire conversation with myself as I was walking to my door, trying to remember if I had on proper attire to answer said door.) I asked, "Who is it?" and I heard, "Dad has had a heart attack and is at the emergency room! WHY DON'T YOU ANSWER YOUR PHONE??? Come on! We are going to take you to the hospital.... and just throw your makeup in your purse, let's GO!" My sister has all of the tact of a baseball bat when she is rattled.
We got to the hospital, and when mom met us, she was very calm. She said she had a strong feeling that all was going to be ok. We waited in the Cath Lab waiting area and were soon met by my adopted older-brother-of-the-heart, John, and a wonderful friend nicnamed for his last name, Briz. (Brizendine) And Briz brought coffee! (I love that man.)
Earlier that morning, Dad had told mom he wasn't feeling well. He asked her to not call the ambulance but to drive him to the ER. She got him there around 4:00 am. He had a major heart attack while he was waiting there and they wisked him off to surgery. We arrived around 4:40 and he was in surgery. He was out of surgery sometime around 5:00 and in ICU by 6:00 am. We got to go in and see him; he looked pale and fragile.
We had a quick visit, left to let him sleep, and then visited with many church-family visitors. It was so encouraging to see the love these wonderful people had for my dad. One man came to visit and, with tears in his eyes, said, "Your dad means so much to me," and then he choked up and couldn't continue. I was very moved by his emotion and his need to just say he cared. So many others have visited and said the same thing..... and in their own special way. God has blessed us with so many wonderful people who want to show their love and support.
As I was driving home this evening, I was listening to Sarah Groves. A song came on and while it doesn't apply to our situation, it very well could have. I know that if it was to be Dad's time to go.... I know he is a faithful servant and would go straight to be with Jesus. I draw great comfort from that.
So, I would like to end with the thoughtful lyrics of Sara Groves.
Thank you all for you prayers and I love you all.
Conversations by Sara Groves
"What Do I Know?"
I have a friend who just turned eighty-eight and she just shared with me that she's afraid of dying.
I sit here years from her experience and try to bring her comfort. I try to bring her comfort.
But what do I know? What do I know?
She grew up singing about the glory land, and she would testify how Jesus changed her life.
It was easy to have faith when she was thirty-three, but now her friends are dying and death is at her door.
Oh and what do I know? Really, what do I know?
She lost her husband after sixty years, and as he slipped away she still had things to say. Death can be so inconvenient. You try to live and love. It comes and interrupts.
And what do I know? Really, what do I know?
I don't know that there are harps in heaven, or the process for earning your wings. I don't know of bright lights at the end of tunnels or any of those things.
But I know to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord, and from what I know of Him, that must be pretty good.
Oh, I know to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord, and from what I know of Him, that must be very good.
* * * * * *
Thank you, God, for sparing my father and for giving us more time with him. I know you have your plans for him, Lord, but for now... you have let us keep him a little while longer. You are a good and gracious Lord and all things work to your glory.... even this. Amen.
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