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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sewing (02/22/07)
The Patchwork of my Life

My sister and I were walking down the hospital hall, hoping we weren’t late. The doctor was supposed to be in this morning with the results of Dads tests. It wasn’t quite nine o’clock and we both thought we had plenty of time.
We walked around the corner and there was our other sister, Stacy setting on Dads bed. She must have seen us coming when she looked up. We knew the doctor had already been in to see Dad. The look in her eyes told us everything.... the news wasn’t good and she’d been crying. She met us at the door and confirmed my thoughts.
“He’s already been here, hasn’t he?” She shook her head yes as new tears flooded her eyes.
“What did he say?” I demanded softly.
“The doctor said Dad has liver cancer and he probably won’t live long enough to see next Christmas.” She sobbed.
I took her in my arms as she sobbed uncontrollable. No words were mentioned. We just held each other as we tried to absorb this heartbreaking news.
I was too stunned to cry as we walked into Dads hospital room. He was sitting on the side of his bed with his face in his hands. I could tell the news was taking its toll. How could it not! He looked up and as we made eye contact I gave him a soft smile as I approached his bed. I took Dad in my arms and just as I did he started to cry. His shoulders begin to shake softly as I stroked his back.
Time just stood still, and I refused to cry.

The next couple of weeks were nothing but a blur. More tests, more doctors and second opinions and they all had the same results.... there was no hope. It was happening too fast and I didn’t want to believe that there was no hope. Dad was never ill. Never had a cold. He was always healthy.... until now.




I knew there had to be a bigger picture to all of this then I understood and I did all I knew I could do.... I spent a lot time on my knees praying, wondering, God do you hear me? Do you understand what I’m asking? Do you know what this is going to do to my life if he dies?
Yes, He knew. God knew I would be on my knees praying with a broken heart. He also knew Dad would die six weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer and he knew I would find salvation in the midst of my sorrow. I had to say good-bye to my earthly father only to welcome my heavenly father.

It’s amazing now to look back on my life before Dad died and then the days that followed. I am able to see now how God is putting together a quilt of my life. Stitch by stitch, square by square he sews. All different shapes and colors. Some brighter than others and some with different textures. It’s been a gentle reminder to me, as if God was whispering.... “You just wait until you see this quilt when I’m done with it. It will be beautiful.... You may not like all the shapes and colors or even the textured squares now, though they’re unique. I needed them all for the finished product. That dark rough textured square had to be placed there... in order to help offset the brighter one next to it. Don’t worry, you will understand too when you see the finished pattern.”
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This article has been read 687 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Clyde Blakely
03/02/07
I liked the message, so true. Good flow to your writing, easy to follow. Emotional but tempered by the recognition of an all-knowing God!
Saw one small typo (Dads, Dad's). Also your older sister was sitting on Dad's bed but then Dad was sitting on his bed with a confusing transition.
Keep writing from the heart. May God richly bless and praise God for your salvation!
Jacquelyn Horne
03/03/07
Heartbreaking story. But one many of us have had to live through. But God is always there for us, even if we don't know it yet.
Marilee Alvey
03/07/07
Amen and Amen! This is just how it is. We have to know Him and have faith in where He takes us, just like when we were little in our earthly father's arms. We felt safe, no need to ask about our safety. Why do we question our Heavenly Father now? Hasn't He supplied all our needs? Good job! A few grammatical items that can be easily fixed, but, at the core, a very nice read!