I just got off the phone with my mom; we’ve been skyping for
the last two and a half hours (thank you Jesus for free wifi in the Blue
Pumpkin cafe). God has divinely provided
for our family… so I want to share that with you.
Last Monday night my dad (who is never sick) started
throwing up after feeling weak all day. My mom saw this as a warning sign and
convinced my reluctant father to go to the hospital – definitely a nudging from
the Holy Spirit. Ten minutes after getting to the hospital he started having
trouble breathing, began having a heart attack, went unconscious, and had to be
resuscitated four times in order to get his heart beating normally again. After
he was stabilized they flew him by helicopter to another hospital in Worcester
to get the best cardiac care possible; upon arrival they were able to break up
a 100% blockage in one of his arteries and insert a stint to keep it open. He
stayed in the hospital for a few days to recover and just returned home last
night; I was able to talk to him today minutes after finding out about all of
this and am so grateful for that. He’s doing wonderfully and in good spirits; it
was incredible to hear his voice.
God saved my dad.
As I sat in this Cambodian coffee shop, in shock with tears streaming
uncontrollably down my face and barely able to talk, I just listened to his
voice. He’s alive. Sometimes I feel so far away from my family, so helpless and
distant, so out of control. But that’s the key – I’m not in control. The Lord
is. God truly is protecting my family… way better than I ever could if I was
there. God’s timing is perfect and His
faithfulness and provision are beyond what I can fathom. As both my mom and
dad rehashed the story to me they testified to countless examples of God’s
divine hand in the situation. His presence was undeniable. If my dad had
started having a heart attack at home he wouldn’t still be here. As the doctors
were working hard to stabilize him they allowed my mom to remain in the room
and pray; the doctor looked at her at one point and said he was doing everything
medically possible he knew how, but that he was praying the whole time as well.
That room was covered in prayer. Jesus was holding my father’s hand, looking at
him lovingly and telling him it wasn’t his time yet, that he was going to be
ok. I’m tearing up even now as I write about this; life is so fragile and we
never truly know what tomorrow will bring. But
we serve a faithful, loving God who holds us through it all. My mom said
she wasn’t scared while all of this was happening – that there was an extreme
peace throughout the whole situation. She didn’t know if my dad would go to
heaven that night or be able to come home, but she was sure of one thing: they were completely, undeniably
encompassed by Christ’s love and presence, and that’s something nothing in
this life or the next can ever separate us from.
“No, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither
death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord� (Romans 8:37-39).
Praise the Lord for His great love and divine provision in
my father’s life… and in all of our lives. I am eternally grateful. Please
continue lifting my family up in your prayers as my dad recovers and the
doctors discern whether he’ll need bypass surgery in the near future. But more than anything, PRAISE GOD for the
wonderful things He’s done and will continue to do… in all of our lives. Thank
you, Jesus!!
“I will praise you, O Lord, among
the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love,
reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies� (Psalm
57:9-10).
“I will PRAISE YOU, O Lord my
God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your
love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave� (Psalm
86:12-13).
