Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

Currently I am in the stage of my life when an aging parent is very ill and the possibility of him leaving this life seems on the horizon. My dear father is battling complications from heart surgery performed several years ago, and is now laying in a hospital bed, not able to speak well, see well, or do anything for himself. Knowing him, he would not wish to be in this state. He was intelligent, creative, caring, and a hard worker. But now...

Through the years, I have shared Jesus with him, but because of things that happened to him as a boy, he wasn't ready to receive Him. His heart was hard and bitter. In spite of this, my prayers and pleas continued. Many caring friends prayed with me for my Dad to be saved. My brother also was praying, and sharing Jesus' love with Dad.  My specific prayer for Dad went like this "Dear Lord, please let my Dad receive You as His Savior, and let me know he has done this before he dies someday."

Then on Father's Day, June 19, 2011, as my Dad laid in his hospital bed, he met Jesus. My brother and family came to his room after church service that morning, and found Dad in tears. He told my brother that he had an encounter with Jesus. "Jesus, save me!" Most likely at that same moment, my brother had earlier kneeled at the altar at church and prayed "Jesus, save Dad!!" My brother tells me they all cried, tears of joy. Finally. Finally. The nurses were concerned about their mental and emotional state...they didn't understand what was going on... that a person's eternal destiny had just been sealed.

Dad was able to be home for a short while after that, and though I wasn't able to have conversations about his new relationship with Jesus, he would grab my hand determinedly whenever we would pray. I could tell he was different.

In a recent conversation with my brother about this, he told me that Dad had cried out to Jesus in that hospital room, and Jesus reached down with His everlasting arms to hold Dad. Dad would never be alone, no matter what he would have to face.

And while I pray that Jesus will allow Dad to get better and enjoy more days with his family, I know eventually that He will take Dad home, and I can feel His everlasting arms around me too. Through not only His presence, which is thick, but also through my family and friends who are surrounding me with their love, concern, and prayers. I know I am not alone either.

Life is a journey. And it is up to us how we travel, and how we finish. I am so grateful that Jesus is in my heart, and I know that someday, when it is my turn to leave this life, I will feel His everlasting arms around me too, as He escorts me to the reunion with my Dad, Mom, and others who have passed on and are with Him.

 What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

leaning on the everlasting arms;

what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,

leaning on the everlasting arms;

O how bright a path grows from day to day,

leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

leaning on the everlasting arms?

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

leaning on the everlasting arms.

From the hymn Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Elisha Hoffman,Anthony Showalter