The last month has been torture. I've tossed and turned at night. I've been begging God just to take me Home... then MAD at Him for not answering my plea. My body is wracked in pain. My life is a dead-end. My dreams are shattered. But now I know why He did not...
This morning my 90 year old father was choking. He hardly made a sound as the breath left his body. I don't know how (God?) but I KNEW something was terribly wrong. I went over to see what had me so disquieted in his regard. He was gesturing to me frantically...
This had happened before. We both knew the drill. As I put my arms around him from behind and began the upward jerks of the Heimlich maneuver, his arm got caught in the mechanism of his power- chair. We began to do a sort of a gruesome dance... his body struggling not to die... mine to bring it life...
I screamed at my mom, who was in her room, "Call 911!!! Dad's choking again!"
I applied pressure to his solar plexus, just under his ribcage by lifting him firmly. With each motion saying a calm prayer... "Not today, God. Not today. He's going to LIVE. Today... in Jesus' Name. AMEN."
Then my father spit up the eggs which had been lodged in his windpipe. His breathing was ragged. But became regular. No ambulance would be needed today.
As I looked at the wizened little old man in the power-chair I realized something. I had not saved HIS life as much as HE had saved
MINE.
I may not be much or have much. But I have him and my family to help out.
I may never realize my dreams. But God will always give me another day to try to live them... a precious Gift...
LIFE.
SO WHO AM I TO THROW THAT GIFT BACK IN HIS FACE?
So think about it. Perhaps later today you may see a child run out in front of a car... and pull him back. Maybe you'll find a frozen starving kitten... you'll smile and put a dollar in the hand of a homeless person who was ready to give up til your act of kindness made him reconsider...