Thursday Thoughts (12/15/16)

In a week, our whole world can change. Well, that is not quite right, but that is how it sort of feels. In fact, it didn’t even take a week. Sunday, we got the call to come to the hospital because they didn’t think Dad would make it through the night. Of course, when things seem bleak everything else will seem to go wrong. The normally 2-hour drive to mom’s home took 3.5 hours, due to snow. Then the 4o minute drive to the Hospital took 1.5 hours. In our hearts, we all feared that we were too late.

But dad was still with us. We held his hand, shed some tears, and I told him that he was a great dad and that I loved him. He teared up as Dad always would. Then we downloaded some hymns on my cell phone so he could listen to his favorite music. As we listened to Amazing Grace his mouth formed the words, “I now am Found”. When, Great is thy Faithfulness, played he mouthed a few words, raised his left hand as high as it would go, and then he became relaxed and quiet. The first time this happened in 3 weeks.

Dad was on heavy flow oxygen, but never moved after that moment, around 11:00pm. Monday morning at 10:45 we asked the doctor if they could reduce the oxygen, as we knew Dad was going to hospice and would need to have it reduced for the transport (our fear was he would pass in the ambulance without us around). The Doctor agreed and they lowered the Oxygen to a normal flow---Dad was gone. Just that fast. Perhaps it is wishful thinking, perhaps it is intuition, but we believe Dad raised his arm and then embraced his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We shed tears together, embraced, prayed, and left the hospital to drive home. I am reminded that everyday people make this same journey. They leave a hospital and their loved one is gone. Mom asked why does it have to hurt so much. It is one of rhetorical questions we ask at times like this. However, it is important to know the answer.

The Son of God came to earth, and took for himself human flesh. He became God-man. He who knew no sin, could not suffer, could not die, became human so that he could suffer and die for our sin. Being a Christian does not pull us away from our humanity, it draws us into his divinity. We suffer, because the world suffers, and we can never forget this truth. What is different is how we suffer. 

Though we suffer for a short time, we have hope in Christ Jesus. One day he will return and suffering, sin, injustice, prejudice, and all other calamity will cease. For now, those who believe continue to participate in this broken world. I hope I never forget what it is to suffer loss, so that I am able to embrace those who are suffering. I hope I never stop offering the Love of Christ Jesus, so that those who suffer can know his divine love.

Just a thought the day before dad’s funeral.

“Those who believe in me will never die!” – Jesus

For the believer, we pass from life to life, Amen.