Posted on 06/20/2005 8:44:57 AM PDT by Revelation 911
I had a surreal moment this past weekend and kindly ask your prayers directed to the family mentioned. I didnt catch their names but Im confident that God in His infinite glory, knows them, as He knows all of His children.
I had taken my 16 yr olds rock band to play at a "youth" show, at a Lake Ontario waterfront bar. There werent many kids there, and it was a lovely Saturday, so I thought that while he played, I would walk the pier.
The Rochester waterfront is under a renovation of sorts and regardless of the politics, it is really looking nice. Its also home to an original Dentzel carousel. So I began my walk. As I started, I noticed a woman in her sixties, sitting on the breakwall with an even older fellow. She was stroking his hand quietly and had an arm around him. I dont know why - but I asked if they were ok - she said no....she thought the old gentleman had suffered a stroke. She said she had called 911 and was waiting for the ambulance, and asked if I could flag it down, which I did.
While we waited for the Ambulance to find a path to the pier, across the lawn....I sat with them, and placed an arm around the old guys shoulders. All the while, she was explaining what had happened - He'd had a stroke a few months back, and knew he enjoyed walking on the pier...and wanted him to experience that one more time. At some point she called the man "Dad", and it struck me what a surreal moment I had stumbled across....
Here was a dear daughter, taking her recovering father (who it turns out was well into his 90's) for one last walk...only to suffer a stroke....
So there we sat - the calliope from the carousel playing in the background, while a daughter shared a few tender moments with her dying dad - rubbing his hand, and comforting him on what soon would be Fathers day - and I was struck with what a gift and what a blessing he had in such a wonderful child
Soon they loaded him up in the wagon, and discussed DNR's briefly, while I mustered a "God bless you both".... feeling my words of comfort are so stupid sometimes
Im not sure how things turned out, but given his advanced age and his medical problems, I would not be surprised if he's passed.
Regardless, please say a prayer for them both - and praise our loving Father who blessed me with the presence of such a loving child and the company of a man who was soon to be in the presence of Jesus.
I said to my own daughter later that day that I hoped she would do the same for me, when that day comes - she promised, and had in doing so - gave me a wonderful fathers day gift
Prayers sent!
PRAYERS SENT TO THE FAMILY AND YOU FOR COMFORT!
WE ARE IN THE SAME NECK OF THE WOODS.
GODBLESS!
wow
While it is right to think they were blessed with compassionate and loving children I considered myself far more blessed to have been able to assist at the deaths of those I loved so very much.
Thanks for the wonderful story
Amazing situation you found yourself in and it's not by chance that you happened to be there.
I am still shaking my head in awe as I sigh.
Sometimes, as we go through our daily lives, we see others in their misfortunes and we may say a silent prayer. Other times we see those who are unfortunate and we are compelled to act and in doing so we become prayer in action.
You my friend, were simply being prayer in action.
Thank you for sharing this, prayers for all.
We never know why God puts us in these situations, do we?
I sense, however, that you were put there to comfort the woman as she held her husband and wondered if he would live or die.
May God bless you abundantly.
And may God be with the elderly couple on their journey.
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