Fifteen Chances!!!!

 

Some of you may remember Gary, my husbands friend/”jesus”(a reminder of how we should treat him).

Recently, Gary was hospitalized with bronchitis –it was a busy time for us. Lots of other ,truly important things going on-not that Gary was unimportant, but we knew he was being cared for and was ok.

We busily took care of the extra work hours,travelling to co-op class, watering our drought thirsty garden/flowers and collapsing at night.We aren’t as young as we used to be!!! Our kids,even as adults need us from time to time and some of them are struggling with health,car problems and just curves that life throws you.We are happy to have them nearby so that we CAN be a help ,even if it is as simple as a ride when a car is broken.

In the meantime-Gary started calling.The first day or two it was 2-3 calls a day-my husband and I  both dismissed it,since Gary is quite childish(for real-he suffered a brain injury as a small child when a family member backed a vehicle over him) and we DO have to say no to him at times. This appeared to be one of those times.

The next day there were 4-5 calls-each one exactly the same, in his childish ,toothless speech he said,

”Brother Bubba,you come to see me tonight?I sick in the hospital.This is Gary.”

We grinned as we listened to the 5 messages-and talked about needing to go see him but we  didn’t go  that night either.

On the third day he called 15 times-same message over and over-my heart just sank! I had been out all day so didn’t hear the messages  until after 6 pm.

I turned on  the speaker phone and we all sat, listening to his simple speech pleading for us to pay attention!With each message I felt more sadness, guilt and finally shame.

I wondered if God felt the same way-like He had to call me 15 TIMES  just to get to me- and I  KNEW He DID!!! He used Gary to once again remind me that although I was taking care of things that needed to be taken care of I must remember the simple kind things that HE asked me to do!  As soon as we finished our dinner, we loaded up in the car and went to visit Gary!

If only you could have seen the childlike joy when He saw my husband!!! His toothless grin and silly jokes assured us that God was patient and forgiving of our misguided time management skills and so was Gary!       :)

It took 15 calls to remind me -

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. (KJV)

Gary’s smile and BIG BEAR HUG reminded me of that reward- it was total peace and comfort in knowing that God would call ME  15 or 1500 times if it took it and he would wait for me!!!!!

                                               ***Please don’t make the assumption that I think we have been  noble in this small act-quite  the contrary is true and I know it! :)