Thank You

A few days ago we had a special service at MLC. There was some light food and incredible music. Shawn then talked about the importance of being thankful to God for all that He has done in our lives. He even ran around the room with a mic. letting folks in the audience share what they're most thankful for.

I'll be honest, I was an emotional wreck through it all. Anyone watching might have even said that I was uncomfortable or out of place. I didn't have the nerve to take the mic.

You see, these past several days someone very close to me has been seriously, life-threateningly ill. (You'll understand if, for privacy reasons, I don't give too many personal details.)

This is someone whom I've known all my life and with whom I've trusted my life on countless occasions; a person who is one of my oldest and best friends. Like all friendships we've had our ups and downs. But while the forging of a friendship is sometimes painful the final result is stronger for it.

My friend was helicoptered to the hospital with a major organ in the final stages of failure. Even a half-hour delay would have meant death. The next several days were stress-filled for everyone involved as the doctors worked to stabilize their patient to the point where a transplant operation would be survivable. As the days clicked by my friend's strength increased due to the skill of the doctors and nurses boosted by the prayers of so many close friends.

Just as things got about as good as they could we got the call: "They think they have a donor." How many times has God delivered at exactly the right time? Too soon and the patient wouldn't have the strength. Too late and the patient wouldn't make it. Exactly the right time.

So, tonight, I am thankful to God for always being right on time in fulfilling His promise to us, His children, that he will take care of us and fulfill His plan for our lives. I am thankful to God for the amazing medical advances and the skill of the medical staff -- the earthly hands of the Almighty Healer. I am thankful to God for giving me the strength to face this time and for the close friends and family who support me. I am thankful to God for being with my life-long friend and providing the courage, strength and determination to endure.

And, though I will never know their name, I am thankful to the anonymous donor who in Christ-like generosity and charity donated their organ so that this special person in my life can have another chance. Lord, I ask you to bless their family and though they're mourning the loss of a loved-one give them comfort in the knowledge that their loss has given the gift of life to another.

Thank You