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“I have given skill to all the skillful, so that they may make all that I have commanded you. “ Exodus 31:6


“O Thou who art the all pervading glory of the world, we bless Thee for the power of beauty to gladden our hearts.
We praise Thee that even the least of us may feel a thrill of the creative joy when we give form and substance to our thoughts and, beholding our handiwork, find it good and fair. “.
Walter Rauschenbusch


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"Come, and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me.
I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the LORD woud not have listened and heard my voice in prayer.
Praise be to God, Who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!" Psalm 66:16-20
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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

I waited too late.........but he didn't !

I put off making a quilt for a person who became very dear to us.........and today he passed away.

When hubby entered the nursing home to recover from his hip replacement last February, a roommate arrived the same day.  Jack was a man that hubby had known when they both were in their 20's, and of course, we had moved away for over 30 years.  Jack suffered a stroke in January of this year and had been in Nashville for a little while. 

I didn't know Jack, but when his sister and her husband came to visit in the little room that my husband shared with Jack, it turned out that they went to the same Church as us and we had never even met.  We 'clicked' immediately, such a blessing when sharing a small space like that, and we came to enjoy each other's time while visiting the men. 

Jack's sister asked me to pray that Jack would accept the Lord as his personal saviour, and so, when hubby and I had our morning Bible reading, I feel like the Holy Spirit led me to make sure that Jack could 'eavesdrop'.......in the evenings at home, when I prayed for my husband's recovery, I joined what I knew were many prayers going up for Jack.  Hubby was very blessed, and recovered quickly, getting to go home after a month.  Jack remained and didn't seem to be improving, but seemed no worse either.

Well, when hubby and I decided to go back and see some of the friends that we had made at the nursing home, Jack was at the top of the list.  He loved Reese"s peanut-butter cups and Hubby made sure he always had that or some other candy to take to Jack on our weekly visits.

Sometime this summer, Jack's sister shared with me at Church one night that she had good news and bad news.  The bad news was that they had discovered that the reason Jack wasn't improving was because he had cancer in his lungs that had spread to his brain.  I was pretty much shocked and devastated........he's become such a friend !  The good news, she hurried to tell me, was that Jack had prayed with the family and given his heart to the LORD.  Oh, joyful news !  Prayers answered, ............more prayers for health, and strength, and comfort and peace........

I was making the aprons for everyone at the time, and gave Jack one, too.  But when I had pretty much 'covered' all of our friends.....quite literally....I started getting an inclination to make a quilt for one or two of them.  I just didn't know, since I hadn't known him that long.  
But he's been having a rough time for the last couple of months now, going into pneumonia, and I felt that I just really wanted to make him a quilt for Christmas.   I asked hubby if he thought it was a good idea, and he said, "I'm just not sure he'll make it that long."  I said , "I know, I'm going to start one now. " 

Sunday, I heard that he had taken a turn for the worse, and my brother said that he'd go with me on Monday night to visit, since hubby and I had missed a week due to colds.  When he didn't get to go Monday night, I woke up this morning just knowing that I had to go today, even if it was by myself.

When I went with candy in hand, I found his door closed.  The tech out in the hall asked if that candy was for Jack and when I answered, "yes", she said that he wasn't able to eat anything.  I had no idea he was that badly sick.  I gave the candy to another friend and was about to leave when I saw Jack's sister-in-law.  When I asked after him, she said that the family was with him, and that I could go in. 

It was hard. 
I love them all now, and it was hard.  

After visiting a bit, I told his sister that I'm making him a quilt and that if I can't give it to him, I'll give it to her. 

So, I guess I just had to get this out of my head, and remind all of us, self included, that if you want to do something for someone, do it today.  We are not promised tomorrow, but our hope is in the Lord's mercy and resurrection.   I know that Jack will KNOW when his quilt is finished, and he will  smile again.   Hey, he's smiling now !

5 comments:

  1. Oh, Dolly! Praise the LORD that Jack came to know Jesus! You had a part in that; bless you for sharing God's mercy and salvation with him. Your gift of sewing will be the hug the family is missing, too.
    Hugs, pokey

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  2. Dolly, you have my sympathy! How sad... But oh how good to hear that Jack gave his heart to Jesus! That gives a peace like nothing else. Lifting up prayer...

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  3. Dear Dolly, what an awesome way to start my morning! An admonition and a blessing all in one. Thank you.

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  4. Praise God! I'm glad he didn't wait too late! My heart is elated!

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  5. The roses in your header look like the Mr. Lincoln roses I have in the yard, mmmm, I can almost smell them from your photo!

    I am so sorry about your dear friend, but glad he found God before it was too late. What a blessing to know he is saved.
    Someone once told me something I have never forgotten; when God puts it in your heart to do something, He means for you to do it now,so don't put it off. I try to follow this,but of course I'm not perfect. Thanks for the reminder.

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