Fall 2012 - Breakthrough - International Ministry of Intercessory Prayer

more when her time comes. Funny,
I think about child birth instead of
death.
I drive home, exhausted. I pass the
local cemetery and shiver; it’s so cold.
What a nasty day. I shake off this cold
feeling. She’s okay. We have some
time yet. I set aside thoughts of my
visit and focus on making supper for
the kids instead.
I should get some gas in my car. I
have only three dollars until payday.
The gas station is closed. It’s getting
darker and colder. I’ll put gas in the
car in the morning. The tank registers
at less than a quarter full.
It’s 9:30 pm. I go to bed. At 10:20,
the phone rings. It’s Bob.
“There’s something wrong,” he
says. “She is in a lot more pain and I
can’t quiet her. Please help me!”
“Of course!”
There is only one main road between
my house and his. Driving is
almost impossible. I couldn’t even see
24 | THE BREAKTHROUGH INTERCESSOR | FALL '12
in front of me. The snow wants to be
a blizzard. It is as though a giant angel
is guiding my car. I was wearing only a
sweat suit and no makeup. How could
I possibly appear professional?
God’s love fills my heart and mind.
When I arrive, I get to the back door
quickly, holding my nursing bag
tightly. Bob greets me and there is a
look of shock on his face. I run up the
stairs with wings on my feet. Peggy is
waiting for me, sitting up in her bed.
I put my arms around her and settle
her back into her pillows. I see she is
losing consciousness. Quickly I check
her blood pressure; there is none – as
if I didn’t already know.
“Bob, where is Jeff?”
“He’s in the other room.”
Somehow my arms around her
seem to quiet her. I realize her son will
need to hold her while she is still alive.
“Jeff, come quickly and see your
mother!”
All three of us tell Peggy we love
her; and within five minutes, she was
gone like a snuffed out candle. I stay
numbly by her side, desperately trying
to stay in control while Bob and Jeff
shout out to God.
My visual aid is the Bible by
Peggy’s bed. I turn through the worn
out pages to Isaiah 43:2-4: “When
you pass through the waters, I will be
with you; when you pass through the
rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you
will not be burned; the flames will not
set you ablaze.”
Bob’s face shows deep shock as
he makes phone calls: to family, the
coroner, and the funeral director.
The funeral director arrives. We talk
a little. Then I notice the snow has
stopped outside. I drive home as I have
an early start the next day.
I am friends with the gas station
owner near my house and I know he
will have the station open early for
me. When I get home, I knew this
seemingly empty tank of gas is absolutely
no problem. God had heard and
answered Peggy’s prayer.
All of my energy is gone now,
but my youngest son, Sam, calls from
his bed.
“Mom, are you all right?” He is
always so caring.
“I’m fine, Sam.”
“Something’s the matter,” he said.
“Where were you?”
“It’s okay. I’ll tell you about it
later… Sam?”
“Yeah, Mom?”
“Jesus loves us.”
“Right, Mom. I know. I love you
too.”
Kathleen is the grandmother of nine
grandchildren. She volunteers at Lockpert
Cares homeless shelter in New York
and is a pastoral nurse and health minister.
This story is from when she worked
for the Visiting Nurses Association.
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