For me, Valentine’s Day has a very special meaning. You see, twenty years ago today, God spared my dad’s life.  From what Mama later told me, Daddy had the stroke as they were waking up that morning, and he fell off the bed. She thought he was reaching to get her Valentine’s card from the bedside table and slipped. Only after she got up and came around to see about him, did she realize that something was very wrong.

They lived in the small town where I grew up; when she called the ambulance, it only took them a few minutes to get there, but I’m sure it must have seemed like an eternity to her.  Since I had moved to another town with my three children after a divorce, she couldn’t immediately get in touch with me- I was getting the kids to school while all this was happening. When I finally got to work, my sweet sister-in-law Myrtie called to make sure I was okay, and to tell me that she’d get the kids after school, so I could leave and come home to be with them at the hospital.

Most of the rest of that day is a blur; I know I rode with them in the ambulance to Montgomery, and I remember the doctor talking to all of us in the hall, but not much about what he said.

I do know that the doctors first told Mama that he wouldn’t make it through the night. Nevertheless, the next morning, he was still with us; again, the doctors, trying to be kind and not build up false hopes, told us that even if he lived, he’d be a vegetable. I think that’s the day that he told Mama if she would just put his feet on the floor, he thought he could get up and walk… Then the doctors said, well even if he’s aware of what’s going on around him, he’ll certainly never walk on his own.

They had many visitors over the next days, while they waited to see what steps to take next.  One visit that I will never forget (Mama told me about it later) was from their friend Bob.  Bob and his family attended First Baptist Church with my folks, and they had served on committees together, and were deacons in the church – Bob also owned the local funeral home in town.   Since Daddy seemed to be asleep when Bob got there, and he and Mama were talking quietly; I’m sure he was asking if there was anything Mama and Daddy needed, and making sure that they knew everyone was praying for them. After a few minutes, Daddy opened his eyes and saw Bob standing there, and said, “You can go home, Bob. We don’t need you yet.”

During the time that Daddy stayed at the rehab place (about 6 weeks), Mama was there every day, cheering him on.  He worked as hard as he could on every task they gave him, and didn’t give up. And Mama didn’t either- she cooked his favorite things and took them to him, to ‘supplement’ the meals he got at rehab.  It was tough on her, but she kept doing what needed to be done.

They never gave up, and they still haven’t given up.  Daddy still works on his computer every day (he has a spreadsheet that can tell you how much he’s paid for gas, how many miles per gallon they get for each tank, and how much each miles costs!)and loves Auburn football; he also enjoys playing games on the computer, and sending emails. (When he hears that someone has had a stroke, he always sends encouragement to them, telling them to work as hard as they can at their rehabilitation so they can get better. ) Mama takes care of him every day, cooking for him, making sure he has what he needs and just being a good wife- and you know, that’s what Valentine’s is all about, don’t you think?

Oh yeah, one other thing… you know, the doctor told him he’d never walk again – well, here’s the rest of the story. Daddy got out of the rehab center right before Easter, and went back for a followup visit to the same doctor. When he came into their checkup room, Daddy looked at him and said, “You said I’d never be able to walk again; but I want you to know that I walked into this office on my own!” The doctor told him he’d never been so glad to be wrong in his life.

Three pastors were talking about prayer as they walked down a dusty road; each had his own opinion of the best way to pray.

One pastor, who was young and not too long out of seminary, said, “I have been taught to approach the throne of God as a young child approaches his loving Father – eyes open and looking up, arms reaching out in love.”

The second pastor was a few years older, and had already led several churches. He said, “Well, I  always believed it best to approach God as a humble servant approaching a mighty King: eyes down, on my knees, recognizing that He holds my life in His hands.”

The third pastor, who was much older than the other two, had served several churches. He smiled as he walked a few more steps; the two other men looked at him. He turned to look at them, and said, “I don’t know about you two, but the best praying I ever did was hanging upside down in a well.”

I believe there’s a sermon in there somewhere.

I haven’t been online much lately – so many things going on. Some ongoing situations here at home have been keeping us busy, both on our knees praying, and talking with others in the situation to get things taken care of.
I’ll be having outpatient surgery on Thursday, so it will be another day or two after that before I feel like posting again- your prayers are appreciated!

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