I Know Whom I Have Believed...


Monday, April 13, 2009

Just Stay...

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.

'Your son is here,' she said to the old man.

She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent.

He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.


The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.

All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand
and offering him words of love and strength

Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.

He refused.

Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital -
The clanking of the oxygen tank,
The laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings,
The cries and moans of the other patients.

Now and then, she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.

Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

'Who was that man?' he asked.

The nurse was startled, 'He was your father,' she answered. 'No, he wasn't,' the Marine replied. 'I never saw him before in my life.'

'Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?'

'I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.'

The next time someone needs you ...

Just be there...Stay.


Thanks to my Aunt Gwen who sent me this story...

5 thoughts:

Carolyn said...

I love this story. What a difference our world would be if all of us were this unselfish.
Hope you had a joyful Easter, Karen. Easter was so very special to me this year. I was part of the choir and drama pageant at our church and we had three performances. It was wonderful and people gave their hearts to Jesus. We rejoice! Blessings, Carolyn

annies home said...

this story is great and I have been there many times as I worked in geriatrics for those that had no loved one but did not want to pass away alone

Andrea said...

Very moving! To have that kind of love for others that we would sacrifice even one night for them! That's the love of Christ.
Thank you for sharing, Karen. God bless. Take care.

Andrea

Toknowhim said...

Just wanted to stop by and say thank you for praying for my mother... Your prayers mean much to my mom and me... Thanks, Kim

Andysbethy said...

Wow.
Thanks for passing that along.

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