Unbelievable
Last article I talked about my step-father and his Christ-like attitude.
A couple of months ago in the article “Running Out of Time” I told you about how my step-father had one prayer request for coming year. It was not that he have a miraculous healing - it was that each of his kids (natural, step-children, and their spouses) along with each of his grand-children and every Christian he knows would ‘reach’ at least one person for Christ (this year).
The last couple of weeks have been terrible for him…
He has had a geometric increase in pain. Doctors’ reports have been more negative than positive. He needed to have some surgical procedures done to repair his cancer ravaged bones…
The days before he found out about the surgical procedure were especially painful - his vertebrae are literally disintegrating, crushed by just the weight of his own body… The surgical procedure (vertebral-plasty) is supposed to help that…
It was under these circumstances that I was surprised to receive a handwritten letter from him. It was not a form letter. It was not a typed and reprinted ‘mass mailing’. It was personal. It was also one of at least twenty-five personal letters written to family members. It amazes me that he took the time and energy to write one, much less more than twenty-five letters. Think about this. He is terminal. He is in terrible pain. He is barely able to sleep, the pain is that bad, and he writes letters to all his kids, grandkids, their families - each individual.
More amazing, bordering on the unbelievable was the subject matter. It is not a farewell letter. It is not a letter begging for prayers of divine intercession. He reminds again that NONE of us knows how much longer we have to accomplish God’s mission for us, to be the person God wants us to be… Then he goes on to interrogate. He reminds that he had one prayer request and one ‘mission’ for each of us to accomplish. The prayer request and mission for the New Year was that we reach just one person for Christ this year. He then asks two questions. The year is half over, have I accomplished the mission? If the answer is yes, have I moved on to make it two or three or four? If, no, then I need to get busy being about my Father’s business…
He knows the answers (we talk at least once a week). However, here he is, in his position, encouraging each of us to persevere… Unbelievable, but true.
I just pray I have that kind of heart for God, and Christ-like attitude…
My step father gets it - what we do in this life effects eternity. Every opportunity we have to share the gospel of Jesus Christ is an opportunity that has everlasting consequences…
A couple of months ago in the article “Running Out of Time” I told you about how my step-father had one prayer request for coming year. It was not that he have a miraculous healing - it was that each of his kids (natural, step-children, and their spouses) along with each of his grand-children and every Christian he knows would ‘reach’ at least one person for Christ (this year).
The last couple of weeks have been terrible for him…
He has had a geometric increase in pain. Doctors’ reports have been more negative than positive. He needed to have some surgical procedures done to repair his cancer ravaged bones…
The days before he found out about the surgical procedure were especially painful - his vertebrae are literally disintegrating, crushed by just the weight of his own body… The surgical procedure (vertebral-plasty) is supposed to help that…
It was under these circumstances that I was surprised to receive a handwritten letter from him. It was not a form letter. It was not a typed and reprinted ‘mass mailing’. It was personal. It was also one of at least twenty-five personal letters written to family members. It amazes me that he took the time and energy to write one, much less more than twenty-five letters. Think about this. He is terminal. He is in terrible pain. He is barely able to sleep, the pain is that bad, and he writes letters to all his kids, grandkids, their families - each individual.
More amazing, bordering on the unbelievable was the subject matter. It is not a farewell letter. It is not a letter begging for prayers of divine intercession. He reminds again that NONE of us knows how much longer we have to accomplish God’s mission for us, to be the person God wants us to be… Then he goes on to interrogate. He reminds that he had one prayer request and one ‘mission’ for each of us to accomplish. The prayer request and mission for the New Year was that we reach just one person for Christ this year. He then asks two questions. The year is half over, have I accomplished the mission? If the answer is yes, have I moved on to make it two or three or four? If, no, then I need to get busy being about my Father’s business…
He knows the answers (we talk at least once a week). However, here he is, in his position, encouraging each of us to persevere… Unbelievable, but true.
I just pray I have that kind of heart for God, and Christ-like attitude…
My step father gets it - what we do in this life effects eternity. Every opportunity we have to share the gospel of Jesus Christ is an opportunity that has everlasting consequences…
posted by Unchained Slave at 12:10 PM
2 Comments:
Hi David,
In fact, the eternal consequence should always be the real driving force in our decisions. Something about mortality makes that clear to us, but your step father has it exactly right in the exhortation he has given: if we were thinking in terms of the true priorities in pleasing God, it would always command our focus.
Thank God he was able to have the surgery, we're still praying that God will raise him up. I am sure he is very, very eager to get back out there and show us all how it is done.
Loren
I have been reading these posts and his testimony is speaking greatly. Yours is as well.
Post a Comment
<< Home