My Dad Will Rise Again
by Yvonne Ortega
“My dad will rise again,” I whispered in the darkness of the wee hours. I had called the nursing home hours before that to talk with Dad. The staff member said, “He’s not here.”
“What do you mean, he’s not there? He has to be there.”
She said Dad was still in the hospital. The nurse at the hospital told my brother Dad was stable and would probably go home in a couple of days. I called my brother to find out what happened.
“The doctor told me Dad had a massive heart attack. They are trying to regulate the oxygen,” my brother said on the phone. “Without dialysis, he will die in a few days.”
My stomach became queasy, and feelings of helplessness overwhelmed me. In the throes of post-surgery recovery, I couldn’t travel. Gracious, I could hardly walk four blocks in a quiet safe neighborhood without collapsing on the coach after my return home.
“I thought the nurse told you he was stable and would probably go home in a couple of days.”
With a sigh, he said, “She did, but I just spoke with the doctor and that is what he told me.”
My thoughts turned to the story of Mary and Martha when Lazarus died.
“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told Martha in John 11:23.
Martha said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (John 11:21).
Jesus assured Martha that her brother would rise again. She said, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (verse 24).
All I could think was if Dad dies, he will rise again too. Prayers of desperation fell from my lips, “Lord, if you had been with Daddy, he wouldn’t have had a massive heart attack and be on oxygen. But I know that even now God will give [me] whatever [I] ask.”
I told God about the same thing Martha told Jesus, “I know Dad will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
“Jesus said to [Martha], ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die’” (verse 25).
What a comfort to know that Dad believes in Jesus Christ. He will live, even though he dies.
What do you believe about Jesus Christ?
John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (NIV).
Prayer: Dear God, help me believe that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. Amen.
Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega III.XXX.MMXVIII
Beautiful. The fear of losing someone is almost as frightening as losing someone. Only with our faith in God’s promises can we overcome our fears.
Have a blessed Easter
Gail, you are so right. And yes, our faith in God’s promises will sustain us. You have a a blessed Easter too.
Precious, Yvonne, what a comfort to have that hope! Love you!
Thank you for stopping by, Carla Gade. Yes, what would we do without that hope? I love you too, dear sister.
This is a beautiful and touching message. I will share it with some of our patients. Bless you
Thank you for stopping by, Annetta. Yes, do share it. God bless you, too.
Thanks, Yvonne for sharing this story. It is so precious to know the truth of this promise. It always makes the sad moments along our journey become filled with victory. Just today I posted on my blog (http://www.ritchwrites.com/homecoming-reunions/) about this topic. Thoughts returned to our conversations around the table at Ridgecrest, and to the journey, you are currently experiencing.
Thank you for stopping by, Ritchie. I will check out your blog on this topic.
God bless you.
Yvonne