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 Dad's Page: This page will change from time to time, but I thought I'd recount my innitial reaction to the beginning of this life changing episode of "Joe's Journey". I was just pulling in my driveway as my cell phone rang; it was Jake. “There’s been an accident!”
I rushed into the cubical in the emergency room. Joe was lying on a gurney with two or three nurses hovering around him in a definite state of urgency. I.V.’s were attached and an oxygen mask covered his face. He had a hospital gown covering him. I could hardly see him for all the movement of the nurses. There was a huge pile of glass shards on the floor. One of the nurses was still picking bits of glass from Joe’s body and dropping them to the pile on the floor. I was in a fog. Can this really be happening?
Jake was there. Debbie was there. All the family was soon there. I don’t even remember exactly what all happened next but Joe was rushed off to surgery and we all ended up in a waiting room. Of course Jake filled in all the details as well as he remembered as he, himself, had been knocked unconscious.
What a difference this gathering of the family was. Just two nights ago I had ridden with Adam and Kelly and their kids, Bre and A.J, to the airport to pick up Jake. Jake was a Marine, stationed in Okinawa for near a year and a half and made it home for Christmas. Debbie had invited everyone to her house to welcome Jake home, so that’s where we headed. Debbie had a houseful. Jake’s friends, Joe’s friends many of whom were mutual to both were there. Jake and Joe had always been very close and this was the longest they’d ever been separated. To witness their reunion was a moment to be cherished. What a bond there was between them!
It was gracious of Debbie to have me, as we had divorced years before and the relationship between us could be strained at times. I didn’t stay too long but before I left I invited the family to a local restaurant for a Christmas luncheon the next day.
God has such a way of orchestrating situations that may be wonderful at the time but later become such a support and comfort that you know in your deepest being that it was all part of His plan.
It became dinner rather than lunch, which was fine because the evening turned out beautifully. My oldest two, Mike and Melissa along with her husband, Eric and their kids, Alex and Aurora were there. Mike had been in Florida and it was an unexpected surprise that he be there. Adam and Kelly arrived with Bre and A.J. and Debbie arrived with Jake and Joe. We were all seated in a comfortable area and somewhat to ourselves. Following a tradition my father had started, rather than try to figure a gift each would like, I give a check, along with a short letter. The letter began explaining that my gift of money would sooner or later be gone, but the real gift of Christmas is from God; then followed a copy of the Christmas story copied from one of the Gospels. I then ended the letter by explaining there was one important requirement to God’s gift: You have to ask Him to accept you!
I am a Christian, but I haven’t always been, even though I was raised in a very sincere Christian family. My parents took me to church and Sunday school every week; I attended a Lutheran elementary school; I went through catechism classes and was confirmed a member of the church. I didn’t do that for any of my children. With Jake and Joe we may have gone to church occasionally, both were baptized, but that was more Debbie’s influence than mine. I really shirked my duty as a Christian father.
My life changed when my older brother died suddenly as the result of a heart attack. My Mom had died years before and my Dad died just a few years before my brother. I realized that now, I, was the Patriarch of my family, and therefore, it became my responsibility to instruct my entire family in the ways of the Lord. I have indeed made a feeble attempt to do that, but I didn’t realize there was such urgency.
Joe’s neurosurgeon entered the room where we’d gathered to reveal Joe’s condition. Joe had received severe head injury and the swelling was now the biggest problem; if it didn’t stop, his brain would crush itself inside his skull! “Joe may not make it through the night!” When the doctor made that statement, my knees buckled and I almost fell to the ground.
“Dear God”, I prayed, “please don’t take my son.” Had I done enough to prepare Joe to meet his Creator? My mind flashed back to that dinner. Everyone opened their envelope and maybe read a little and probably figured to read it later, but Joe, sitting right next to me, read it entirely and then looked directly at me. We gazed eye to eye and then a little smile crept to his face and he blinked. You can't know what a comfort that's been to me. I thank God that he answered my prayer and didn't take Joe. He has a purpose for Joe and he's doing his part. I hope to use this site to encourage others that despite all the trials we are faced with in this life, we have a God who is sovereign. He has a purpose for each of us and I pray daily for his guidance. I pray for healing for Joe and encouragement and support for Debbie. I pray with Joe and read God's word to him. There is incomprehensible power in His word and I believe from the depths of my soul that God is healing Joe.
Please check back with the site from time to time and by all means if you have comments, questions or whatever click the contact button on the left and write! Thank you and God bless you and your family.
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