I left and had a long heart to heart conversation with his caretaker. It was then that God answered some of the questions that I have been asking for months, why God are you leaving grandpa here? Why does he lay bed ridden? Why haven't you taken him home when he has been a faithful servant all of his life? It seems like he has fulfilled his purpose here, why does he continue to have to suffer?
I think many of us are afraid of asking God questions? Not me. I see my relationship with Jesus as if my kids were talking to me. Sometimes it is weeks, months, years before I receive an answer. Today He gave me some answers through the caretaker and it has changed my outlook on my grandfather's final days.
Society seems to think that as we age, we serve little purpose. Care centers are popping up faster than any other commercial buildings nationwide to care for those who are aging. Many elderly are stuck in homes to waste away. Some families choose to stay away for whatever their reasons may be. Over the years I have come to appreciate those who are aging. They are treasure boxes full of wisdom and experience that is tucked away in complexes, homes. The aged once had their youth, successful careers, travelling the world, productive members of society.
Grandpa has had nothing but time on his hands for years. He used to sit and wait for the infrequent family visitors, telling stories of how God saved his life on numerous occasions, his time serving in the World War in the Philippines, how his mother missed the Titanic, how he just missed a store's explosion by just 5 minutes. Again and again he told of how God had saved him, restored his soul, singing God's praises for transforming his life. He didn't just tell us the stories of God's faithfulness, he also told the stories to the people in the hospitals, the rehabilitation centers and now the group home where he will breathe his final breath.
It was no coincidence that grandpa landed up in the home where he now resides. Grandpa was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, so were his caretakers. Again and again grandpa has been talking about the Gospel message, Jesus loves us so much, he died, was buried and after 3 days rose from the dead. The caretaker shared about all of their conversations in the house and that grandpa has brushed death numerous times.
The prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. James 5:16
Her last story though struck me the most. The path of my dying grandma who has been gone for a year and a half is very similar to my grandfather's which they find very intriguing. For six weeks my grandma called out Please God...My grandpa a couple of weeks ago when asked by the nurse if he was in pain said that he is carrying the pain and burdens of many that he loves. She said that it seems like they are interceding in prayer for his family. It made me think that all of this time, in the moments of quietness and silence, that as parents and grandparents they have spent much of their time in prayer for those that they love, in other words they are interceding for us on our behalf. While the outside world believes that they have seen better days, in their final moments, before they breathe their last breath, they know all the hardships and broken relationships and suffering that their family members and friends are enduring and yet, they are able to give one of the most precious gifts a person can possibly give, prayer. She said she can see that he is still struggling to live, however when he has finished interceding he will give up the fight.
My final thoughts to this are do I love enough to pray for those who hurt me? Do I pray for those who struggle to survive? Do I love enough to pray for those in my family who are lost? Do I love enough to judge less and pray more? Do I love to the point where I will look the other way in other's weaknesses and find joy in their strengths? Do I love enough to intercede in my moments of pain and struggle? Do I trust enough to ask for strength to walk through the trials in life? Am I willing to put myself on the line to share the love of Jesus even in worst days? Am I willing to humble myself to ask for help when I can't make it through a dark day? Am I willing to push aside my feelings to intercede for those who have turned their backs on me? These are all questions I will continue to ponder. If grandpa could do all these things in his final days, I have part of him in me...
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