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from Rev. Patrick Holder, former pastor...
Journey – June 2023
Praise
the Lord!
My time of service at
Westside is coming to an end. It has
been a blessing and I pray God’s Blessings continue with you and yours. I
leave you with a letter I came across at some
point in my life.
The number
of times I have been asked the simple question, 'Where
was He when I needed him?' A question I have answered many times and in many
ways. However, I really enjoy this
response although I have no idea who to owe the credit to. Read and enjoy.
Letter From Heaven (Author Unknown)
“She
jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She
said: "How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see
him?"
The
surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make
it."
Sally
said, "Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where
were you, God, when my son needed you?"
The
surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the
nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the
university."
Sally
asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her
fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. "Would you like a lock
of his hair?" the nurse asked.
Sally
nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and
handed it to Sally.
The
mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for
Study. He said it might help somebody else. "I said no at first, but Jimmy
said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other
little boy spend one more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy
had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help
others if he could."
Sally
walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most
of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the
seat beside her in the car.
The drive home was difficult. It was even
harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the
plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.
She
started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room
exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and,
hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.
It was
around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded
letter. The letter said: "Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but
don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm
not around to say "I Love You". I will always love you, Mom, even
more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want
to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can
have my room and old stuff to play with.
But, if you
decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us
boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like; you know. Don't be
sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me
as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time
to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know
what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew
it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit
on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I
told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good-bye and
everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom?
God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I
think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to
you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked
Him 'Where was He when I needed him?' "God said He was in the same place
with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He
always is with all His children. Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what
I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper.
Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some
more names in the Book of Life. Tonight, I get to sit at the table with Jesus
for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.
Oh, I
almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm
glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see
me hurt so much either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me.
The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?”
Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.