Message by Song

Joy Sutton

            My mother was very near death in the hospital.  I was at my sister's house.  At 3:00 a.m. I awoke and felt compelled to go to see her.  Not long after I arrived, some of the hospital staff began coming in to perform more senseless testing.  I convinced them that there was no point, and she would not want the tests done.  It was as though I had been sent to speak for her.  Her doctor came in later, and I explained to him why I had taken such action and that it was my mother's wish to join my dad who had passed away ten years earlier. 

            It was a hard day as she continued to decline.  I went back to my sister's house to get some rest and figure out what I should do.  It was a Friday and the first day of school was on Monday.  I was in TOTAL despair!  I thought no one else could handle the first day with my new class, and yet I didn't want to leave my mother.  Finally, I decided to return to Longwood.  I traveled home in one car while Jim, my husband, followed me in our other car.  As we were traveling, a blinding rainstorm began.  The turmoil in the outside world was reflecting what I was feeling inside.  I had my Jim Nabors' tape playing.  All of a sudden it stopped raining, and a ray of sunshine came through.  It was the exact moment that I heard him sing these words from his song, “I Can See Clearly Now”,

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-shiny day.

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone

All of the bad feelings have disappeared

Here is the rainbow I've been prayin’ for

It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-shiny day.

Look all around, there's nothin’ but blue skies

Look straight ahead, nothin’ but blue skies

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-shiny Day

            I felt like these words had double meaning for me.  As soon as I got home, I called my mother's room to talk to the private nurse we'd hired.  No answer!  I called the nurse's desk and was told that my mother had passed away a short while ago...about the very same time I had heard those lyrics and had seen that ray of sun. 

            What a powerful and comforting message I had received.  I had no doubt but that the Holy Spirit was with me that day.