Recently I was sharing with two friends and they suggested that I might want to share with you what I had related to them.  As I thought about it later, I decided to do so, hoping that the Holy Spirit would minister to others that are in a time of grieving over the loss of a loved one.

First of all, I would like to give you some background of where our family was at that time in our lives so you will be able to have a clearer picture of everything.

It was the summer of 1974, and my husband, Stuart, and I, along with our five children, were traveling from New York back to Eugene, Oregon.  We had left Oregon several years earlier and had moved across the country to Lima, New York, because my husband had accepted a teaching position at Elim Bible Institute.  There was some sadness in our hearts as we left Elim, for it had been a life-changing experience for our whole family.  Yet, we knew we were to return to the west coast.

These were the years of the Charismatic renewal and we had seen a powerful move of the Holy Spirit as the Elim Choir had ministered on tour.  It was a very sovereign move of the Holy Spirit.  We had regrets about leaving, but at the same time we also knew that it was in God’s timing and by His leading that we were returning to our former home.

Of course, the kids were all looking forward to seeing their old friends again and catching up where they had left off.  Stuart and I had mixed emotions, but, at the same time we, too, were excited about relocating and moving into a new home and all that goes with that.

Just prior to our leaving New York, we received word that my Dad was sick and  had been diagnosed with cancer.  This weighed heavy on our hearts, but we were praying for Dad’s salvation and for his physical healing as well.  My folks lived in California and we already had plans to visit them as soon as we were settled in Oregon.

As it was, Stuart was thrust into his new position at the church.  We realized that it would be better if he did not leave at that time.  So he stayed behind with the other four children, and my youngest son Jeff and I, drove down to California to see my parents.

Dad was now in the hospital recuperating from surgery.  They opened him up, only to discover that there was nothing they could do as the cancer was in the pleural membrane lining of the lung and inoperable.

Back then, children were not usually allowed in the hospital.  But, I wanted Jeff to be able to see his Grandfather so I took him in with me hoping that no one would say anything.  As it was, they didn’t mind, and I was so thankful that Jeff was able to see Dad.  I didn’t know at that time it would be the last time they would see each other on this side.

I prayed with Dad and asked him if he knew the Lord.  He responded, “Oh yeh!”  But, I did not have a witness in my heart that he really did.  We stayed a few days visiting with Mom and other family members and then we drove back to Oregon.

We began to pray in faith for his salvation and his healing!  We would have loved to have seen him healed, but it didn’t happen!  There are some things this side of the veil that we never will understand…but when we see Jesus, we will understand it all!

Several months went by and Mom felt it would be best that we not come for a visit until Dad was feeling better.  So, we abided by her wishes.  We were all hoping and praying that his health would improve.

However, it wasn’t long until one day we received the call that Dad was gone!  From the time they knew what the disease was until his death was only six months.

Stuart’s mother and grandmother were visiting us at the time we got the call.   They had come to Oregon for our oldest son Steve’s graduation from high school.  So, before we were able to make it to Hanford, where the funeral would be held, it was necessary for us to drive Granny Ross to Grass Valley to her dear friend Ida’s home.  Then, I believe, Mom went ahead and traveled to Vista, California, where she lived.

I am telling you this so you will understand the hustle and bustle we encountered while trying to make it to the funeral on time.  We had left Oregon after the graduation ceremony and had driven all night.  We arrived at my Mom’s home barely in time to make it to the funeral.  We quickly changed our clothes and hurriedly drove to the funeral parlor.

As the pastor was speaking, he shared something that really was amazing and I could hardly wait to talk to Mom after the service and get clarification.  We had not had time to talk prior to the service.

When we were finally able to talk with her, we were thrilled at what she told us.  Now, remember, we had been praying and believing for God to work in Dad’s heart those few months prior to his death.

The last month or so of Dad’s life, he was very weak and finally reached the point where he could not even speak.  So, if he wanted something, he would write it on a napkin or paper.  He eventually got to the point where he could not even write.  Dad was so weak that he could not sit up.  I am relating this so you can see the greatness of what the Lord did!

The last day of his life, Mom was with him at the hospital and a male nurse was giving him a breathing treatment.  Mom turned to the nurse and said, “I think he is going!”  The nurse asked Mom if there was anyone she would like to call.  She asked the nurse to call my brother since he was living in Fresno, where the hospital was located.

Now, remember, Dad was not able to lift his head, sit up or speak.  The nurse left the room.  All of a sudden Dad sat up, dangled his feet over the edge of the bed, lifted his arm up pointing toward Heaven and declared with a loud voice, “It’s all right, I’m okay now!”  And with that, he laid back down and was ushered into the Presence of the Lord!

Mom said, “The Presence of God filled the room!”  I said, “Yes, it was the Holy Spirit!”  Just imagine the angels that must have been there as well!

This was the day Dad said goodbye!  What a glorious testimony of the goodness of the Lord!  We don’t understand all things, but we know that God is good.  He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance!  Never give up or stop praying for your unsaved loved ones.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV —“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

What a marvelous sign God gave us so we would know that Dad was with the Lord!