His Divine Order
Recently
I suffered from a bad case of the flu and could not seem to recover my energy
or my will. My body was depleted; my mind and spirit were depressed. I began to
wonder why God was keeping me alive. I felt no value or purpose in my life at
this time. I prayed and asked others to
pray for me. Finally I turned it over to
God to show me the path he would have me take.
Then... came the call from a dear, sweet
friend of 50 years asking me to please come visit her. Jean wasn't feeling well
and needed my support and love. I really wondered how I would have the energy
or the money to honor this request. But as the week went on, I felt more inclined
to make the decision to go - even though I was still not totally well. I found myself looking up "cheap
tickets" online and found one available. I called her daughter and asked if the time of
my arrival would work. She said it would so I booked the ticket on my credit
card. Another friend offered to take me to the airport at 5:30 in the morning. God was taking care of all the details.
I
arrived in Atlanta to find that my friend had been in the emergency room all
evening and was still there with an obstruction in her intestines. When Jean was
finally able to get into a hospital room, we were able to have some privacy. Knowing so well my background in Hospice, she
told me about her wishes with clarity and conviction. I listened, and we prayed
for God's guidance.
With
her daughter and me present, my friend also talked with her doctors and
informed them that she had decided to stop all dialysis treatments and other
interventions that would prolong her life. She had been struggling for 19 years
with ailments and pain. She had undergone 11 years of dialysis treatments - three
days a week. She was exhausted and ready to let go. That night she had the most
peaceful sleep she'd had in years. She stopped struggling to hold on and being
brave for everyone. She knew it would not be easy for her or her family. However, they all agreed it was for the best,
as she would only get worse as the interventions continued.
I
spoke with my friend and her family about what needed to be done, and we
notified her family to come as soon as possible. I was scheduled to fly out on
Friday morning, but when I got to the airport, I realized my backpack containing
my wallet and ID was missing. I couldn't get on the plane! I asked the Uber
driver to take me back to the hospital to see if someone had turned it in. Although
I was given little hope of it being found, I felt it was God's way of letting
me know - I was still needed here; it
wasn't time to leave yet. So I trusted this was a part of the Divine
Appointment that was to unfold.
Jean
was so relieved to see me return and
to be there with her loving family. It lightened my heart to sit there watching
her great granddaughters - ages two and four - lovingly curled up with her and
her grandson holding her hand. The tears
of joy and sadness flowed from all.
That
night Jean was given a shot of morphine to help with the pain. An ambulance arrived at 10 pm to transport
her to the Hospice facility where she wanted to go. Since her family had other obligations that
evening, I went with her - sitting in the front with my arms full of gorgeous lilies
as she rode in the back sound asleep. All during the rest of night I sat vigilantly
listening out for any special needs she might have. At dawn she awoke fully conscious and alert.
Alone, the two of us sang very quietly together, "I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the
roses." We knew we would meet again someday. Later that morning her
daughter and son-in-law arrived with pots of tulips in bloom which brought a
smile to her heart and eyes! It was spring coming in February. Jean was always at
peace in a garden.
That
afternoon I was to catch another plane home. Before leaving, I told my friend
how much I have loved her. Soon after my
leaving she went into a coma. Other family members flew in from different parts of the country
as well as many others who came from so many places and from all walks of life!
My friend remained in a coma for a week.
During this time her daughter told me that she and her siblings spent
time bonding with each other. This
would have made Jean so happy!
[Oh, yes, my backpack was found. A
lady visiting her sick husband at the hospital had kept it safely for me. The airline put me on a flight on Saturday at no charge to fly home where another
friend came and picked me up!]
When
I returned home, I saw a beautiful single rose blooming on my bush. I cut it and brought it into the house. It remained just as beautiful until the day
Jean died.
I
am convinced that my part in all this was another Divine Assignment. God had plans for me - I just had to listen
and follow them with trust and gratitude.
I have been entrusted with such assignments many times before in my
life. Though I was so very depressed before this all happened, I now felt
hopeful and joyful. My faith reaffirmed!
Thanks
be to God for his Divine Order!
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