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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Mourn (08/01/24)
“Marilyn, your dad had another heart attack.”

This was the phone call I received on a Saturday afternoon. My dad had two previous heart attacks and came through both of them just fine. There was no reason to think this one would be any different. I asked mom, “Do you think I should come home?” Her reply, “No, the doctors think he is stable and there is no need for you to come just yet.”

My husband was a pastor in Staten Island, New York. My hometown was Freeport, Illinois, 916 miles difference. To make the trip home would require some advance notice and planning. I went about my day praying for my dad and hoping that he would survive, yet another heart attack. The last time I had seen my dad was five months previous as we celebrated Thanksgiving together. I sensed when I said my good-bye to him at that time, that this might be the last time I would see my dad this side of heaven.

Sunday morning arrived like any other, except this particular Sunday was dreary with rain off and on and lots of dark clouds.

I prepared breakfast for myself and my husband, then got our boys fed and ready for church. With everyone ready, including myself, we walked next door for the service.

Because I sang in the choir I met with them beforehand. Just before the service was to start, the choir took their place in the choir loft. I was participating, but my heart was nine-hundred miles away.

Fifteen minutes into the service an elder came to the front of the church and motioned for me to come out of the choir. Leaving my place, I walked with him through the side door where he told me my mom just called and said I needed to come home immediately. Dad was not doing well. The elder then whispered this news into the ear of my husband, who let the congregation know what was going on.

Two of my dear friends, who were in the congregation that day, immediately got up and came over to the house to help me get things ready so we could leave after the church service was over. They made sandwiches for our trip. Helped me pack for our three boys. They were, indeed, a life-saver.

Unknown to me, my husband banished his planned sermon for the morning and talked from the heart about my dad and his life. Perhaps one of the best sermons he ever preached.

At one o’clock we were in the car ready to make our nine-hundred mile journey to Illinois. As we left the house the phone was ringing. I was tempted to go answer it, but decided against it. I didn’t want a long conversation with someone right now and figured they could just leave a message.

As we were driving to Illinois, I began to mourn the loss of my dad. “Dad, will I see you one more time”, I whispered.

Would we make it home in time. I kept praying “God is he still alive or not?”

The weather outside mirrored my feelings inside. Dark. Rainy. Gloomy. It was as though all of creation was mourning with me.

I finally asked God very specifically “God is my dad still alive, or has he already come home to be with you? Please give me a sign.” In my heart I knew the answer, but I needed God to confirm it.

At that very moment something miraculous happened. For a brief moment, the rain stopped, the clouds parted and the sun shown through. My heart was rejoicing at how God answered my prayer. My tears started flowing because at that moment I knew my dad was safe in the arms of Jesus. God showed me very clearly “Your Dad is finally Home.”

I said to my husband, “we don’t need to hurry to get home. My dad is already in heaven with Jesus.”

“How do you know?” He asked.

“Because God just gave me a miracle - and because I just know.”

When we stopped for dinner, around six o’clock, I called my mom to see what the status was. She told me that dad had passed away around one o’clock.

That was the phone call I ignored.

Had I taken the call, I would have missed out on something very special - a miracle from God.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they will be comforted.”
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This article has been read 204 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Terry R A Eissfeldt 
08/08/24

"The weather outside mirrored my feelings inside. Dark. Rainy. Gloomy. It was as though all of creation was mourning with me."
I love how you used the weather to reflect your own journey.
Blessings
Catherine Green 
08/08/24
The line ‘I was participating, but my heart was nine-hundred miles away,’ says so much and really resonated with me. I love the little details you put in - it makes it very readable. Blessings
Phil Drabble
08/08/24
This is a very difficult topic to write about. I’ve been through a similar experience and I’m not sure that I’m could have shared it the way you have.