Johnson walked to the
black Cadillac and opened the back door for his new wife, Anna. As she slid
onto the cold black leather seat Johnson felt a drop of cold rain hit his hand
holding the door handle of the car. He stared at the icy drop of water for a
moment as though it would help his heart to stop beating so loudly in his ears.
Finally the tears he had been holding back for the last 20 minutes began to
flow from his eyes. They were hot and sticky on his wind burned checks. All he wanted to do was run. Just get
out and run like he did when he was the number two high school running back in
the state. God, he loved to run. But not today! Today was a day to stay put.
Today he needed to look strong. So he looked around and quickly wiped his cheeks.
Then he slid into the back of the car beside Anna and closed the door.
As the Cadillac began to
move Anna removed her black gloves, reached over and softly took her husband’s
hand. Her warm touch was all Johnson needed. He released his tears and pain
with the force of someone who had been holding basketballs under water in a
pool. He was tired and out of emotional energy. He bellowed so loudly the
driver was startled and quickly looked at Anna in the rearview mirror. All he
saw was Johnson doubled over with his face in her lap. As his brain processed
what had happened, he quietly wiped a tear that was forming and focused on the
road.
For some time all Johnson
could do was cry. He felt as though his heart would come through his chest, the
pain was so intense. Anna’s over coat was soaked with Johnson’s tears and
mucus. His head now lay in a wet sticky mess. She didn’t mind. She gently
rubbed his hair with her long fingers, closed her eyes and prayed softy for her
husband. She began to ask God to help Johnson to grieve well. She prayed for
this powerful man and leader to humble himself under God’s kind and gentle hand
of grace.
While the driver continued
to drive for the next 30 minutes, Johnson began to slow his bitter weeping and
after what seemed like an eternity, his bellowing stop and his crying turned to
a sad whimper. Anna thought of a story from the Bible about King David. David
and Bathsheba’s first child, a son, died shortly after birth. She remembered
how David had mourned for his dead son and sat in misery for days, until he
realized that his dead son could not come back to him, but one day David could
go to him.
As the black limo was
pulling up the long drive to the front door of the Creed residence, Johnson
lifted his head and wiped his eyes. He then looked at Anna and said, “Why?”
“Why did God take Barry?” At first
Anna was silent. She loved her husband dearly and for this question she wanted
to take her time. So for a moment, she just looked into his crystal blue eyes.
She reached out and took his wet and sad face in her hands. She said softly,
“God didn’t take Barry, honey. We live in a world with people who have wills of
their own and Barry’s motorcycle was hit by someone simply driving too fast to
stop and they ran the red light.” Johnson just stared at Anna. Anna’s answer
did not help his pain.
“But more importantly”
Anna continued, “will you let your Father in Heaven who knows what it’s like to
lose His son, help you through this? Johnson, you know He loves you and wants
to help. Please consider praying to Him with an open heart, a heart to really
accept His help. He knows what you are going through. I did this when my mother
died and He helped me through it.”
As the driver opened their
door, Johnson looked into Anna’s eyes and said, “I’ll try.” As Anna kissed him
she said, “That’s all He asks”.
“Do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7 NLT
Pray about everything and
remember…
Be Life Giving,
Alex Anderson
Please re-post
10-08-12
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