A Matter of Prayer!

Sunday evening, November 25, 2007,
Although today has had no more hours than any other Sunday, it has been a long day and, to be honest, I am glad it is almost my bedtime. For some reason, the older I become, the earlier my bedtime comes. Maybe it is true that old folk need more sleep than younger folk, but I have always believed that I could do most of my sleeping after I am dead (my physical body, of course!). I guess you could say that I am having to do a bit of adjusting—emotionally and physically—to this old age stuff. Regardless, I am really looking forward to a good night’s sleep!
Now, on to the reason for my writing this “perspective” at this time of the day: I really need your prayers, as I will be speaking at the memorial service for a lady I have known for many years, who died very unexpectedly sometimes during this past Friday night or early Saturday morning. Normally, I do not ask you to pray for me when I speak at funerals, as I do so very often and, consequently, I am rather accustomed to doing so (I did not mean for that to sound arrogant or conceited!); however, this one is different. Please allow me tell you why.
I first met David and Nancy (the now deceased lady) many years ago, when they became members of Benevolence Baptist, the church I served as pastor for some 14 years. At this time, their children were very young but, as you know, time flies and they are now adults, and then some. Sadly, about seven years ago, their daughter was involved in an auto accident that left her paralyzed and, as you might imagine, her mother, Nancy, became her sole caretaker, a tremendous undertaking, even for a mother. Only God knows the bond that was created between this mother and daughter during the past seven years.
One night this past week the family was at home doing their normal routine, when suddenly Nancy fell to the floor—a massive heart attack. She was rushed by ambulance to the Medical Center, where a heart catheterization was done, only to learn that the damage done to her heart, as the result of the attack, meant that she was not a candidate for by-pass surgery. The Docs dismissed her on Wednesday of this week with appropriate meds, and she went to her Mom’s home here in Macon, to spend several nights, and hopefully to recuperate.
In the middle of all of this, David had to have his daughter transported to the Medical Center, where she remains, as of tonight. Early Saturday morning, he had to carry out the most difficult task of his life—tell his daughter that her Mom had died.
It is one thing to learn that your Mother just died but it is quite another to learn that your sole caretaker has also died. Because of her size, David is unable to take care of her; consequently, she is going to have to live the rest of her life in a personal care home. As you might imagine, this is more-than-difficult for this entire family, but only Heaven knows the difficulty this young lady is experiencing; sadly, she will be unable even to attend her Mother’s memorial service. How in the wide-world will this young lady ever be able to adjust to this loss and to her new life?
Anyway, I really do need your prayers because 40 years worth of experience speaking at funeral services does not prepare me for this one. The fact is if He doesn’t come through, well you know the rest. This family really does need to hear genuine words of encouragement, and your prayers just might bring them forth. I am, certainly, counting on them!

Blessings with thanksgiving!