After the excitement the day before, Dad was confused again after his move to rehab. The good thing was that he didn't seem as confused as he was Tuesday and Wednesday. He asked the nurse what he was doing there and if he was waiting for someone. So we figured it might take awhile for his mind to heal and for him to be consistently back to himself. But of course, God continued to take care of him. That afternoon, Mom talked to the nurse who seemed attentive and concerned and was going to ask the doctor about some of Dad's meds. The nurse mentioned that Dad got the "penthouse" room on the third floor with the best window view in the building! He also had his own phone so Mom doesn't have to rely on a nurse to give her a call and let Dad talk to her! (What we didn’t know at the time was that Dad’s room phone didn’t even work!)
Several sweet friends sent me notes that reminded me of God's sovereignty, one of them included another psalm that I love. "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them?" ~ Psalm 8:3-4.
I wrote: It is indeed amazing that God cares for us and our problems down here on this insignificant little planet. Who are we that He cares for us? The answer is simple and breathtaking--we're His children! And because of Jesus, the LORD of creation invites me to cry and pray and pour out my needs before Him. "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." ~ Hebrews 4:16
I also realized that I had been lazy about spending time with God. I was trying to coast along on what God had given me earlier instead of taking the time to come to Him in need and prayer. I thought about the old hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” where it says, “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” I went without His peace and comfort because I was too lazy or too tired or too busy to open my Bible and read.
There wasn’t much information on Dad the next day (Sunday, May 31). Poor Mom spent a lot of time on hold trying to get through to someone to get a report on Dad's condition. She finally found out that Dad had done some exercises and was able to hold a conversation with the nurse. Also, she realized that the phone in his room was not hooked up, so the number that Mom was given to call didn't actually ring in his room. They were supposed to get his phone hooked up the next day.
I wrote in my daily e-mail:
My scripture reading today was Isaiah 55: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters...Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?...Give ear and come to Me; listen, that you may live." I realize that I've spent too much of my "labor" lately in worrying about what I can do to help Mom & Dad. I've wasted too much time watching TV in a desire to not have to think. But when I open my Bible and actually meet with God, I am strengthened and encouraged by the living water that only He gives. His words truly are life!
Tomorrow will be nine weeks since Dad was admitted to the hospital, and we are thrilled that he's off the ventilator and able to talk! Mom and I were chatting today and she said, "You know, it's because of the power of prayer!" We're humbled by the number of people who are praying for Dad and us. Thank you so much for all of your prayers!
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