Journal entry by Tony Westhouse —
From Mom and Dad:
Well our stent procedure is behind us and we would like to to think something like normal is on the horizon for us. We wish to take this last opportunity to express our thanks to each of you and share a couple thoughts on the gains God has given us over the last 6 weeks.
First, we are astonished by the outpouring of care and concern you have shown us. Mary is a most remarkable person but her husband understands he is quite inconsequential. But you have lavished us with so many prayers and buoyed Mary while I was out of action in ways we never could have imagined. The family of God has no match. Thank you for the work Father has done in response to your prayers.
Every conversation we have had with health care professionals who were involved with my cardiac arrest has been the same; “I can’t believe I’m having a conversation with you right now”. It is mystifying to us as well because we have had very dear people in our life under the same circumstances that God has taken home. I’m sure it is not about us and we would like for you to give some thought to this: As mentioned earlier, Don is convinced that he is of no great consequence in Father’s providence for His Kingdom. However, with a handful of little people at Vacation Bible School, Children’s Worship, and Moline Christian School playground and substitute teaching duty, Don might be a friend to them. In fact, just 24 hours before Don’s passing seemed imminent, he was being silly with children at VBS (Can you think of anything you would rather be doing just before you meet Jesus!?) My first Sunday in church after our ordeal I was met by multiple children with their mothers holding their hand hoping to greet my return. One little girl with brimming eyes came to my side and said, “Mr. Don, I pwayed and I pwayed fo you”... Might it be our Father took this opportunity to say to his little ones, “I love you, I hear you, what you say means a great deal to me”. Now when I meet these precious ones they have a knowing smile and sometimes a high five, and I wonder, does their tender heart subconsciously know something that escapes the proud, and did Father use this to reassure them that He is for real. I think maybe so. He did that to me when I was in 2nd grade.
So on we go. Our marching orders have not changed. Phil. 3:13 “But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON toward the goal…” (my true home). One last thank you for your priceless place in God’s goodness to us!
Press on!
Don & Mary
Well our stent procedure is behind us and we would like to to think something like normal is on the horizon for us. We wish to take this last opportunity to express our thanks to each of you and share a couple thoughts on the gains God has given us over the last 6 weeks.
First, we are astonished by the outpouring of care and concern you have shown us. Mary is a most remarkable person but her husband understands he is quite inconsequential. But you have lavished us with so many prayers and buoyed Mary while I was out of action in ways we never could have imagined. The family of God has no match. Thank you for the work Father has done in response to your prayers.
Every conversation we have had with health care professionals who were involved with my cardiac arrest has been the same; “I can’t believe I’m having a conversation with you right now”. It is mystifying to us as well because we have had very dear people in our life under the same circumstances that God has taken home. I’m sure it is not about us and we would like for you to give some thought to this: As mentioned earlier, Don is convinced that he is of no great consequence in Father’s providence for His Kingdom. However, with a handful of little people at Vacation Bible School, Children’s Worship, and Moline Christian School playground and substitute teaching duty, Don might be a friend to them. In fact, just 24 hours before Don’s passing seemed imminent, he was being silly with children at VBS (Can you think of anything you would rather be doing just before you meet Jesus!?) My first Sunday in church after our ordeal I was met by multiple children with their mothers holding their hand hoping to greet my return. One little girl with brimming eyes came to my side and said, “Mr. Don, I pwayed and I pwayed fo you”... Might it be our Father took this opportunity to say to his little ones, “I love you, I hear you, what you say means a great deal to me”. Now when I meet these precious ones they have a knowing smile and sometimes a high five, and I wonder, does their tender heart subconsciously know something that escapes the proud, and did Father use this to reassure them that He is for real. I think maybe so. He did that to me when I was in 2nd grade.
So on we go. Our marching orders have not changed. Phil. 3:13 “But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON toward the goal…” (my true home). One last thank you for your priceless place in God’s goodness to us!
Press on!
Don & Mary
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