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Miracles |
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fjones Member
since 1999-06-07
Posts 98MS |
My life’s joy was diminished greatly on April eight ,nineteen ninety-eight. I still have joy because I have other family but not as full as before. Phillip, our only son, had an accident with a gas delivery truck on this day. I could write about many things that happened during the three months that followed. I could tell you about immense pain of the heart, helplessness, fear, despair, disrespect, deceit, loyalty, love, sacrifice, friendship, and enduring family love and support. But the most awesome miracles happened during the months Phillip was in a coma and I want to share these with you. The very first miracle was Phillip didn’t die instantly. We were allowed to say goodbye. God knew we could not endure the pain of loss without preparing us. Maybe some of these occurrences would have been missed as miracles if I had not been in the depths of despair, but when you have only God to call on you feel His presence so keenly. Neither Pink nor I were sick at any time during the three months of caring for Phillip. As soon as he left us, both had colds. I had terrible back pain. God saved it until we could handle being sick. I slept every night in a restful sleep. How? It was just a blessing from God. I would feel so frightened as I lay down; but then I would make a cocoon of pillows to surround me and talk to God. As I drifted off to sleep, I would invision God holding His hands under Phillip- lifting him to comfort and protect him. Countless friends and some strangers did so many things to support us. There were phone calls, prayers, cards of comfort, and money given when we needed it most. This allowed us to stay in Jackson to be with Phillip. Some people came just to be with us. Our family cared for our home in Wilkinson County. My dear sisters did not allow me to spend time in Jackson alone. My brothers-in-law paid some on my lodging. All were God’s workers ministering to me. It came time to move Phillip from University. There was talk of transferring him to Centreville. His father and I felt this would not be in his best interest. My sister Judy received a phone call from a stranger in Columbia, begging her to use Dr. Katz, a neurologist, to care for Phillip. Judy’s daughter-in-law told a friend who told this stranger about his condition. Judy told us about Dr. Katz. He took Phillip as a patient. We thought he was the miracle-but he was a small part of God’s plan. Dr. Katz is the reason Philllip spent his last months in Manhattan Health Care. It was the staff of nurses, aids, and therapist who were God’s workers. I must tell you about Phillip so you will better understand the miracles I will describe later.. Every Christmas Pink and I write Blessings to our children as Isaac blessed his sons. This is Phillip’s from December of ninety-seven. Our Dear Son Phillip. You are a good son. You are there when we need you, but you have the insight to live your life to the fullest without worrying about us. This is what we want for you. God has blessed you in every way. But most of all his love flows through you to other people. This is a gift from God himself and you are intrusted with it. So you must use this gift for the people in your life. Remember your relationship with God is the most important one you have. Our prayer is that you will grow in that relationship and every other one in your daily life. God will bless your effort. We love you, Mom and Dad May God bless you with much work For him in the New Year! If you knew Phillip, you experienced the gift. Somehow he had the power to love folks. He seemed to connect with people of all ages and walks of life. He loved and respected old people. He joked and played with children. Phillip had such wit. What amazed me most was how happy he was. Phillip was filled with God’s Joy. The caregivers at Manhattan told me they knew Phillip even though he could not speak. He could hear what was said and respond with his hand sometimes. Those people talked to him as though they had known him always-not just some but all the people who cared for him. I had thought Phillip’s ability to talk was his gift, (he never met a stranger) but God’s love flowed through his very essence even without speaking. He was totally dependent on other’s care-even for his very breath. I would slip in the room to find a nurse talking to him as though Phillip would answer. They even joked and laughed as if they knew he would have done if he could. For parents this was a miracle from God’s own heart-to have our incapacitated child cared for by loving people. They respected Phillip as a person of great value, as he well was. The times I talked to him and he would answer by caressing or squeezing my hand, I could feel how much he loved me. I could know what he would have said. I felt such connection with him. For a mother who has been told by doctors no one knew how much of your child was still there, this was a manifestation of a child’s love through a miracle from God whom has lost a son too. What a soothing miracle! The therapists were sitting him in a chair one-day. They asked him to point to his mother-out of five women standing in the room he knew Mom-A comforting miracle! I asked for peace, God gave it. I asked for strength, God granted it. Many people told me of miracles of others being OK after comas. Time after time they told me stories of recovery. I needed them to help me to continue. They gave me hope. But one day as I waited to see Phillip, I had an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. I was reading the Bible and happened to turn to: Romans15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. From that day I knew God’s hope was different from anyone’s or mine. My nephew John Snyder held revival at our church. I attended one service. He asked if we truly wanted to feel God’s presence. He said it would be powerful, awesome, and life changing. On June 28th 1998, Pink, Gavin, Pat and I felt God’s presence in Phillip’s room. He carried him home. It was powerful, awesome and life changing. Just an hour or so before I had an overpowering feeling that Phillip was leaving; Pink did also. We talked about asking God to do his will. Everyone discussed what Phillip would want for himself. Then we went to his bedside. I told him most people did not understand the wonderful love we had as a family. We were willing to let him go because we all understood how tired he was from the struggle of hanging on to life. If he wanted God to come take him home all he had to do was ask. He opened his eye for the first time in two days. Then about fifteen minutes later God came. Phillip is FREE. I often wonder why Phillip involved himself with so many things and wanted to meet so many people. Surely God knew he only had thirty-four years to accomplish it all. Perhaps Phillip sensed this too. I must tell you about the radio. The therapist had rigged a button that would turn the radio on and off if Phillip pushed it. Brandi and I were talking to him, I asked him to make our day and smile. I could tell he was trying so hard- his lips would just barely quiver. Then he pushed the button down to play the radio. There was a song about smiles playing. He held the button down until the end of the song-A joyous miracle! Brother Andy has been our Pastor only a short time. He had not known Phillip long, but God used him as an instrument to perform the most beautiful and fitting service. God allowed Phillip to see the birth of his son Dakota. He was Father to him for ten days. A blessing for Phillip to enjoy. My Devotional book by Dr. Spurgeon, a nineteenth century Pastor, had this entry on the day of Phillip’s accident. Preserved to Work’s End Are you a witness for the Lord, and are you just now in danger? Then remember that you are immortal till your work is done. If the Lord has more witness for you to bear you will live to bear it. Who is it that can break the vessel which the Lord intends again to use. If there is no more work for you to do for your Master, it cannot distress you that He is about to take you home and put you where you will be beyond the reach of adversaries. Your witness bearing for Jesus is your chief concern, and you cannot be stopped in it till it is finished: therefore, be at peace. Cruel slander, wicked misrepresentation, desertion of friends, betrayal by the most trusted one,and whatever else may come cannot hinder the Lord’s purpose concerning you. The Lord stands by you in the night of your sorrow, and he says, “Thou must yet bear witness for me.” Be calm ,fill with joy in the Lord. Every word of this is a perfect devotion for Phillip on April eighth because he had three more months to witness. All the elements of the devotion came to pass. I have an idea the three months Phillip lived after the accident were icing on his work. I watched him in his circumstance touch many people. Sometimes it was for the betterment of the person, sometimes not. I can tell you truly , God’s timing is perfect! There were many loved ones other than me involved in Phillip’s last months. Surely they could tell you much more. I’m not leaving anyone out on purpose. Many other things of great significance happened. I just wanted you to hear a truthful account as I experienced the miracles which God gave me so I might be drawn closer to Him in this time of great sorrow. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Beaytiful and touching...may God Bless. ------------------ "Nobody has measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold" ~Zelda Fitzgerald |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
I'm not one for the Light, but this story had me in tears by the end. Probably the best tribute I could give it. ------------------ Shall I indulge in flights of fancy hampered by clipped wings? DreamEvil© |
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Angel_of_Music Junior Member
since 1999-07-25
Posts 35Sanger, TX USA |
this was wonderful.......God is so good, don't you agree? ------------------ "In sleep he sang to me...in dreams he came...that voice which calls to me, and speaks my name..." |
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Gentle Soul Member
since 1999-07-12
Posts 273Vinton,Ohio USA |
*hugs* GOd is a great God... a very touching story... ------------------ Gënt£ë¤§°û£ |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
You have both my sympathies, Faye, and my heartfelt congratulations - for we don't all have the opportunities (or is it the wisdom?) to so closely experience God's great miracles. This is a truly beautiful story, beautifully told. |
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leelew Member
since 1999-07-10
Posts 89highmount,ny,usa |
Simply beautiful! I have tears in my eyes. |
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sasanka7 Junior Member
since 2010-11-17
Posts 30 |
My sincere regards to fjones. sasanka. |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
A beautiful flow of words from the heart...James |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
You have a wonderful supportive family with many gifts of the heart in sharing this part of your life with us. I am sure someone is smiling from above. M |
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incwrite Member
since 2010-12-31
Posts 55new york |
so heartfelt..tender..touching the love of a parent. even death will never take that love of a child away...god bless you |
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