(This is part 2 of a story Randy wanted to share with you...part 1 posted December 18th at 7:00 PM EST) It was the 11th of June, a day I will never forget, and as Leslie began making plane reservations for our flight to California, I immediately called the hospice center. I asked the head nurse to let me speak with my father. She said, He is very weak and hes sleeping a great deal, so I don’t know if he will even be conscious. I said, Even if he is unconscious, please just put the phone up to his ear. I need to talk to him. She walked into the room and said, with a note of surprise, “Oh, he happens to be awake.” She positioned the phone so he could hear me and I said, “Hello Dad, this is Randy, your youngest son. I’m just calling to cheer you on. I know things are pretty rough. I just want you to know how much I love you.” He tried to speak, but the disease had robbed him of that ability, and he was muttering incoherently. To ease his frustration, I said, “I can’t really understand you, but they’ve given you medication to help with the pain. It’s not your fault. You really don’t have to say anything anyway. I know that you love me and that’s all I need to know.” Then I said, “Dad, it would mean the world to me if you would pray with me. Jesus is calling you. He’s always been calling you. He wants to be with you forever but He won’t twist your arm....and I want to be with you forever.” Suddenly, I realized that you could hear a pin drop...he was listening so intensely. I said, “Dad, youve tried so hard to do your best, but I know you are so tired. If you’ll just admit your need for real hope and real love, God hears you. He’s right there. Without Jesus, we’re all playing God ourselves...and that’s where the trouble starts. That’s the foundational sin. We’re all smart enough to know that we’re not God. You know you can’t control things. You can’t fix your situation. If you will admit your need and confess your sin, Jesus promises that He will come into your life and give you new life - it’s His life that He wants to live through you. He keeps His promises Dad.” Then I asked, “Do you understand what I’m saying?” To my surprise, he said “Yep!” He sounded like a young man, completely lucid, and he said, “Yep!” Just like that, as clear as a bell. I said, Do you agree with what Im saying? Again he said, Yep! He sounded buoyant, almost chirpy. So I said, “Dad, I’m going to pray. You don’t have to speak, just agree with me in your heart.” I lead him in a simple prayer, asking for forgiveness and inviting the Holy Spirit to come and dwell within him. When I finished praying, I asked, “Dad, did you agree with me when I prayed?” And again, he said, “Yep!” I said, “Dad, youve made me so happy! That is THE greatest gift you have ever given to me in my entire life, and it’s the greatest gift that you could ever give yourself. You’re going to be in Heaven soon, Dad, and I’ll meet you there someday... and we’ll laugh and laugh and laugh.” Those were the last three words my father ever said to me... “Yep!” (Look for part 3 tomorrow)
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 00:00:01 +0000
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