Joe

Posted January 15, 2008

When you love and live from the Father's heart you look to see what the Father is doing and then you join him in that activity. Yesterday the Father wanted to bless Joe with His love and His presence. Joe is 95 years old, his dear wife passed away some time ago. Other than caregivers who come in at meal times and to frequently clean the house and do other chores, Joe is home alone, sitting on the couch by himself as time passes by. Joe had a stroke recently and can barely talk audibly, even though his mouth can form the words.

Yesterday the Father's way of blessing Joe with His presence was to send me to spend some time with Joe. I knocked on the door and let myself in. When Joe saw me coming through the door he struggled to stand, tears came to his eyes, emotion flushed in his face and throat, and as I walked towards him he put his arms out as best he could and with a mixture of sobbing and laughing kept mouthing the words, "Thank you, thank you, thank you". Even when we sat on the couch he kept repeating, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

For the next 30 minutes I sat on the couch beside Joe just listening as he told me about his hockey days, his raspberry patch, his father and grandfather. Sometimes he laughed, other times he cried but always there was a Presence surrounding both of us that said, "It's good to be in this time and place together. You don't have to understand Joe's words, just listen to his heart." And I did. And it was precious.

Finally, it was time to go. I reassured Joe that I would see him in another week or so, and took his hand and prayed with him. As I walked toward the door I turned to look at Joe one more time. He was sitting on the couch, tears streaming down his cheeks, lips and mouth silently proclaiming , "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

It was a God the Father thing. A Presence thing. Something that comes only from seeking to live close to the heart of God. How joyful it is to see where the Father is working and then to join in with Him.

It is 3 AM. I am writing this in my prayer journal, and my heart is overflowing. And I am crying. And I am saying to the Father, "Thank you, thank you, thank you...".

Chuck Tooman
Living Loved