The Blessing of Obedience and 8-28

This afternoon, Charlie, Daisy, and I walked out the front door to get the mail like we do on most days around 3 pm. Today there was an ambulance and fire truck parked in front of a neighbor on our cul-de-sac's house. We know a few of our neighbors just barely, but these neighbors we have never met. They are an older couple that we wave to when passing, but have never spoken with.

When I saw the ambulance, I wondered briefly what had happened, and then the three of us went back inside. Curious, Charlie and I went into our guest room that is in the front of the house. I put him on the bed where he loves to watch the fan and opened the blinds to see if I could tell what had happened across the street. A few moments later, they wheeled the husband out on a stretcher and put him on the ambulance. He was sitting up and awake. Right behind him came his wife, who got into her car and pulled out of the garage onto the driveway, waiting.

All of a sudden, I felt strongly that I needed to go over and speak to her, pray with her. In that moment, I got so anxious, I could hardly stand it. I thought to myself, they're in a hurry to get to the hospital, as soon as I walk over there, the ambulance will pull out and she doesn't want to talk to me, she wants to get there as soon as possible! And, I don't want her to think that I'm a "rubber-necker" just trying to get some neighborhood gossip or something. The thought ran through my mind to pray for what to do... whether to go or stay.

And I felt the Lord telling me to go. Again, I was anxious and just felt like I didn't want to... I searched for a piece of paper and something to write my phone number on and found them immediately right next to where I was standing. I scribbled down my name and number, slipped on my shoes, picked up Charlie, and out we went into the heat of the day. I was shaking as I walked across the street- I know, its silly how nervous I got, isn't it? But, nervous as I was, for some reason I knew the ambulance wasn't going to drive away yet. I knew that I would get to her and speak with her.

As soon as I walked up the drive way, she got out of her car and came to me, tears in her eyes. I introduced myself and Charlie and she did the same, then told me what had happened. He had been outside while she was taking a nap and he fell in the driveway and had been there for two hours. He had heat stroke. Another neighbor had seen him and came over to let her know and call 911. I told her I wish I would have seen and that I was so sorry. She told me he was going to be okay but that he has Parkinson's and falls a lot. I asked if I could pray for her and she said yes. So we stood there in the driveway and I asked the Lord to comfort them and keep him safe. I gave her the paper with my phone number and told her I stay home now and for her to please call me if she needs anything. I walked back to the house, carrying a blessing of obedience and a burden of prayer.

It was such a small thing, and I'm certainly not sharing this story to toot my own horn... this isn't something I do naturally or easily, which I guess is why I was so nervous. We've lived here for three years and have never even met all of our neighbors! Honestly, it was an eye-opener for me.

It's noteworthy to me that this happened on this day, 8-28, a special day for my family. A day when our thoughts turn to eternity... and we long for the day we will be with Him and with her, reunited. This world is fallen, and while we do have glimpses of His glory in this present time, life is hard and sometimes all we can do is hang onto a Hope for something eternally better through Jesus Christ. May we seek His truth and proclaim His glory obediently on this earth until the day comes that every knee will bow and every tongue confess...

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28