Please let me live to see…

One of the most desperate prayers of my life came from my hospital bed at USC’s University Hospital nine years ago. My doctors had just diagnosed me with this deadly disease, my organs were failing, and my skin refused to stay on my body.

Those were difficult days for our entire family, but especially for my baby girl, Celia. Only a sophomore in high school, I knew my death would be harder on her than Judy, our two adult children or the grandchildren. The idea of her facing the challenges of adolescence without me broke my heart.

As we asked people to pray, “Please let Ed live and serve,” my private addition was always, “at least until Celia graduates from high school. Please, in Jesus’ name, let me see her walk the aisle to receive her high school diploma.

As God always does, He provided above and beyond – not only did he say “yes” to my prayer to see my baby girl receive her high school diploma, I was there years later for the other “aisle” walks of her life: her graduation from Biola University, her wedding day and I was there when she received her Masters from Pepperdine University.

God, in His gracious love, presented my family and I another gift last Thursday, April 16^th at 1:10 AM . . . I stood outside my baby girl’s hospital room listening as my son-in-law coached her through the delivery of our 7^th grandbaby, Zachary James Newkirk! (Don’t you just love that name?!)

As a Pastor, I am privileged to see first-hand in our church family how God’s timing and His gifts serve to glorify Him . . . this past week, I was the recipient of an incredible gift and reminded so vividly of His gracious timing in our lives.

To all who have begged God to let me live and serve over the last nine years, thank you. I continue to believe that your prayers are my only hope. And, to my Lord Jesus, thank You my sweet and gracious Savior for your mercy…and for the privilege of holding this little gift to our family.

I can’t know what’s breaking your heart today, but I do know that Someone cares and you can trust His timing. From births to graduations and someday to our eternal graduation, for all the time in between, He will take care of all that concerns us.

“The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me” (Psalm 138:8).