The Gift - Reconcile

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more” – Anthony Robbins

He was a very sick boy; lying there in the hospital with eyes closed. The boy’s parents stood nearby with his mother on one side and his father on the other side of the bed. His mother’s hair seemed to be unkempt from restless night of sleep by the boy’s bed. White tissue crumbled in her hand and a slow motion to capture every tear that flowed from her eyes. The father was dumbfounded and angry and didn’t know how to handle her or his emotions.

You see this story may be sad. Perhaps you could relate to them and their emotions. Ever had a painful moment? I lost my mentor in 1999. My grandfather was a great Christian example for me. There wasn’t a day and it was confirmed by my grandmother, that he didn’t read his bible. It was painful to see a man full of life, now gone lying motionless in a casket.

The boy’s parents were with their son because he had a rare disease. He was only 11 years old. His parents usually fought about the finances because of hospital bills. They would argue about the boy's care. Communication between them wasn’t the greatest. Yet, both stood firm. They both loved their son very much and it was too much pain for them to bear.

Mom’s face was down on the bedside praying, “Please God just one more day.” The boy’s father was pacing the floor trying to figure out how he could help his dying son. Both parents were together in the same room after a year of separation. The parents couldn’t take being around each other. Yet the last three months in the hospital seem to bring them together for one common cause, their son.

A gasp for air as the boy slowly awakened from his sleep. Upon seeing his parents, he smiled. He looked at his mother and slowly turned and looked at his father. Smiles were exchanged like small gifts which lay under the Christmas tree. He reached out with both of his frail hands. One hand extended to his mother and the other to his father.

“Mother” whispered the boy. “Father” as he motioned with his little fingers. The boy took mom’s hand and his father’s hand and laid it upon his chest and all three were holding hands. “My heart is weak, but my heart is big on love for you” the boy softly spoke. Mom’s eyes swelled and tried to hold back the tears. She knew what was happening and he continued to tell them “I am sorry; my sickness has caused you both such pain and heartache.”

Father busted with emotion, “No, my son you didn’t” and he continued wiping the tear that streamed down his cheek. Both parents were holding hands tightly with their son's hands on top of his chest. Then their son breathed in a deep breath and shared these words. “I love you deeply and I do not want either one of you to be mad at each other anymore after I die.” 

Both parents in unison said, “We won’t be.” The boy went on to say, “Mom, I love you and I want you to love dad. Dad, I love you and I want you to love mom.” Squeezing both parents hands, “I want you to be together when I die and I” The boy gasped again, “I love” and from the last word uttered, “you”. Slowly his eyes closed and lying there motionless, he passed into heaven.

The story doesn’t end sadly. The boy’s heart lived on with another and the parents reconciled and had another child. I believe we often forget just how much we need to set aside our differences and come together. There is a reason we have to celebrate life and death.

I believe you and I are similar to the mother and the father in this story. We celebrate this week with such joy and blessing. A Savior was born. As he grew older He was on His death bed. Both arms stretched out, with one to heaven and one to earth. He brought us back to the Father to be reconciled.

It is a joyous time this year to reflect not on the gifts we receive, but the greatest gift of all. Life! We may not see why we are in the mix of a fix, but we can understand the gift of a Savior buying us back from eternal destruction. C.S. Lewis once wrote that, “Nothing will reconcile us to the unnaturalness of death. We know that we were not made for it; we know how it crept into our destiny as an intruder; and we know Who has defeated it.”

Let’s celebrate with each other in the joy of the season, so “have yourself a merry little Christmas”.

By Faith, 

We continue to F(orge) A(ttitude) I(n) T(rusting) H(im)