I knew you'd come!

It was after 6 AM as I peaked out the window, the sun was just beginning to paint the sky with hues of pink. My father was hospitalized after a stroke and before I began my work day, I would head over to the hospital to check on him.  
After a long day, I hurried home to prepare supper for my family.   I felt uneasy as I went about preparing  the food, I glanced at my watch. It was now 6:30 pm and I no doubt had a strong urgency to leap from the table and head to the hospital sooner than my usual evening visit. 
Have you ever had that sudden feeling deep inside that "something" was wrong?" 

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STOP what you are doing.   "MOVE, move now he needs you." 
I prayed for guidance and strength as I cared for my father and the choices that I might need to face.  Prayer was an anchor for me then as it is now.  It was only through this spiritual strength that I was able to find the physical strength to get me day to day. 

My husband was startled by my sudden action to jump up out of my chair, grab the car keys and head for the car.  I was trying to explain as I quickly got in the car and he jumped in the passenger seat. 

Pulling into the ER entrance, I ran up to the 4th floor and down to my father's room and was met with a closed door.  Closed?  Why was the door closed?  Why was the room dark?
Who would close the door, with lights turned out on a frail man? 

As I opened the door all I could hear were deep struggling breath sounds. As my hand felt the wall for the light switch it revealed my father's weakened body slouched down against the bed rail and his eye's gazing up at me. He was so helpless.  Waiting for anyone to come to his aid.  

He softly and breathlessly said, “I knew you'd come. I knew it.” 
​My heart felt like it had dropped to my feet. 
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• Seeing he was pale and had shortness of breath, I called for the nurse to get oxygen on him quickly.    
• She moved with no urgency, but instead began questioning my reasoning. 

My father stated he pressed the button for the nurse several times and when she did come, she had gave him "a pill," turned off the light and closed the door.
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I assume he pressed the call button one too many times and an incompetent nurse who did not recognize the symptoms of congestive heart failure, gave him a sedative, closed the door and left him alone in the darkness. . .struggling for breath. 

How could someone not realize that this man needed immediate intervention! 
The RN by now had come to be beside as I was  scurrying to call his doctor -
who thankfully happened to be in the ER at the time. 
The head nurse had not recognized the signs and symptoms of a man in distress, in congestive heart failure. 

One month later, my father left this world behind for his heavenly home.  
To this day I often remember his words, “I knew you'd come.” 

Our loved ones can depend on us when they are helpless.
Our loved ones can depend on us for protection. 
Our loved ones know we will be there for them. 

Imagine for a moment that you are that helpless patient in a hospital bed.

You are calling for help.
You wait. No response. 
You are in darkness. 
You wait for someone to push open the door. 
You need someone to intercede on your behalf.
Will someone come to your rescue?

When will that person come?
How much longer can you wait? 
 The fear of death seems to surround you. 
Well fear not, for help does come!

Praise God our help and rescue is found in Christ. 
Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock.”
He waits for us to humbly give our life to Him.
There is no need for anyone to live in darkness. 
HE is the LIGHT of the world. 

So as you gather around the table on Thanksgiving day, 
remember that we have SO much to be thankful for in the 
saving grace that is freely given for our sin. 

HE will erase our past. 
HE will release us from darkness. 
HE will bring light into our life. 
HE will make us a new creature if we are willing. 

May  we be bold and active to move with urgency and tell others of 
the One who is there to help and save us from eternal darkness. 

We all are helpless and dying and He has come to save us.
What love is this!   We all now can say with joy, “I knew You'd come!”

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​Oh, but wait, He has promised to return one day –
He will return as the eternal KING of KINGS
and LORD of LORDS. (Rev. 1:12-16)

And we will say, “I knew You'd come!” 
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