Elevator rides...

God is good! The doctors are about 95% sure that my dad had a stroke (definitely what we were praying for - we didn't want any part of the tumor option). Amazingly (this was all God!!) dad has no facial drooping, slurred speech, or paralysis from the stroke. Praise God!!! God has once again protected dad. I don't understand how dad can be so fortunate other than saying God protects dad every time. He's doing good and will likely come home from the hospital tomorrow. Hospitals are by far the most boring and most interesting places to be which leads me to yesterdays elevator ride...

As I walked into dad's room announcing "I need to cry" yesterday afternoon, I was so moved. I had just returned from the elevator. As another lady and I were waiting for the elevator, a gentleman sitting on the bench began telling us about some hospital in N.O. that had even slower elevators. He said you could "hit the button, go to the cafeteria, get coffee and return right on time for the elevator". Being the skeptical person I am when I am around men I do not know, I started wondering just what his motive in talking to us. He wasn't well-kept, hair was a mess, dirty fingernails, etc. I had totally judged him without even knowing him or his story. He began telling us about his wife being in there and so on. The lady and I were trying to be polite in small talk. About that time, he finished his less than interesting story by saying that his wife was here and she just passed away. Needless to say, we froze. I literally wanted to bust out crying right there on the spot. As the elevator doors opened, the 3 of us entered and he shared the sweetest story about being married for a blessed 21 years to her - the best years of his life. She was his right hand. Needless to say, he had completely captured our attention at this point. He told us the only thing keeping him together was the fact that God loaned his wife to him, and now he was returning her where she belonged...with God. He apologized for "preaching" to us, which we both said no, we thought it was beautiful. Pray for this man and his family.

God, I don't know his name or how we ended up on that elevator with him, but You do. I am so sorry for judging him without any cause. Thanks for blessing him so tremendously with his wife for the last 21 years. Give him strength to endure the sad times and happiness to fill the void in her absence in the day-to-day things. Lord, wrap Your arms around him. Pour Your love into him in a way that only You can. I lift up this man and his family to You for healing of their hurting. In Jesus name!