I am so blessed. Yesterday I shared with you, my readers and friends, the tumultuous situation regarding my dad. Bless his heart, he's such a champ. Today, I talked with his wife and she'd told Daddy I was working with his congressman to try and keep him in the room he has come to regard as home. Daddy told her, "I'll be okay. It's gonna be fine."
Daddy is hoping if he moves that his roommate, Avery, will be able to move with him. A representative from the nursing home that is suppose to be Dad's new destination, came by this a.m. and asked Avery if he'd like to be moved with my dad. Of course Avery said yes. Anyway, I do not know what is going to come of it all. Everything is very much up in the air. But I am at peace and it appears that your prayers have set my father at peace. I have an email I want to share with you all. A sage friend of mine sent it to me when I was in the throes of my deepest anguish over all of this. Such words brought comfort we all need to hear in such times:
"SelahV, How deeply I regret this and I will pray. If worse comes to worse and it happens, turn it on end. Tell him, “Dad our God is pretty amazing. Usually people that have your physical problems and years, God let them retire. But someone is on the way to hell in the new place where God is allowing you to be sent and the only chance he has to go to heaven will be your witness. Consequently, you have no choice but to go as cheerfully, if fearfully, as a 24 year old kid going off alone to an obscure African village to labor alone for the next ten years. Can you believe that God still has a plan and purpose for you that is so important? One more time in life, you must ride Dad. I know you can do it. Eternity is depending upon you.” This will not help you, but it is probably true and may help him. Our Lord will heal your heart."
My friends, this did help me. It helped me envision the awesome God perspective I often have when I encounter such things in life.
I intend to share this with my dad should he be transferred to another facility. This email reminded me of the man I call Daddy. My dad is a man who went back into a burning ship off the coast of Africa to rescue fallen comrades during Operation Torch in World War II. In that crossfire battle, Daddy's ship of 1200 men came out of the battle with only about 126 survivors. He and a handful of men shared a tiny dirt floor cell with a latrine running down the middle of it. They were tossed dogmeat and worm-ladened mush to eat. Daddy is a strong, resilient man. Age has robbed him of most of his dignity but it will not rob him of his character. Of this I am certain.
I thank you for your continued prayers. selahV
[© SelahV Today, hariette petersen, 2008]
