The Preacher's Promise
"You promised. You promised me!" the young girl said as she
tugged on the preacher's arm. It has been a long and difficult
week. Maggie was a cornerstone of this community and
many depended on her not only for what she did , but for
who she was. She was only 34. That in itself was a sad
reminder that death knows no age limits. She left behind a
husband and three children.
Pastor John was a frequent visitor during her last weeks.
Before she was sent home, he visited her in the hospital
nearly everyday. It was during one of those visits that he
offered to sit with the children while Mom and Dad had some
private time together.
In the waiting room down the hall Pastor John sat reading
books and playing a few games.
It was then that Janine, the oldest of the three,
began to ask questions. Questions that most preachers
are asked regularly about life, death and the hereafter,
but hers was very specific.
"Will God heal my mom?" Janine asked unexpectedly in the
middle of a story. Pastor John suddenly became the center of
attention in the room as the two other children and a few
other adults all stopped what they were doing to hear his
answer. A hundred Bible quotes ran through his mind. It is
a book of promises which can offer hope in any dire situation.
It's also a book of instruction on how to reap the rewards of
Heaven by living a life of faith.
But these young children were lost in quotes. So Pastor John
simply replied, "Yes, I promise God will heal your Mom."
Two weeks later, on a dark, cold night in January, Janine's
Mom passed quietly at home surrounded by her family.
Pastor John has visited them early that day and received a
phone call late in the evening telling him she had died. He
rushed over to their house to be with the family. Shortly
after his arrival Janine came downstairs. Her eyes were all
red and swollen from a million tears a young child cries
when they lose a parent.
Pastor John was about to speak to her when someone
interrupted. Janine, still shaken by all that had happened
approached the pastor. "You promised. You promised me!"
the young girl said as she tugged on the preachers arm.
You promised… that God would… heal my Mom!" she
shouted, her chest heaving, gasping for air between the
words. Out of all the things a preacher must deal with, trying
to explain death to a child is the most challenging. He took
her by the hand and walked her into the living room. Now
kneeling before her, he wiped her face and hugged her
gently.
"Janine, I knew that one way or another that God would heal
your Mom. For all that she had been through and all the love
that she gave to everyone, He has kept His promise.
No, her body has not been healed, but her spirit has.
In doing this God takes all the pain she has been experiencing,
removes it and spreads it among all the people who loved
her so. We then call it sorrow. That pain in your heart,
because she is gone, was once a part of the pain she felt while
she was here. Eventually, our sorrow turns into sadness and
our sadness into understanding." he said.
She turned her head toward Heaven and said, "But I wanted
her here, God!" "Oh, Janine. She is still here. She is a part of
you and your family. Over the next few days you will see her in
the faces of all who come to mourn her loss. Over the next few
years you will feel her presence in your life as you begin to
grow into a fine young lady. And one day as you walk down
the aisle with the lucky young man who wins your heart, she
will be in the steps you take to the alter and when you pledge
your life before God. Then, if God wills it, you will see her in
the faces of the children you bring into the world."
She is healed? I mean she's not hurting anymore?" she
asked. Now holding her shoulders and looking her in the eyes,
Pastor John tells her as his own tears now flow,
"She is healed, I promise."
They hugged and cried some more. My friend, one way
or another know that God will heal us all one day, I promise.
Author Unknown To Me
|
|