Deep Burdens - Heavy Hearts
Yesterday I met with John, a man with a deep heart ache. His mother had passed away in a horrific automobile accident. They buried her last Friday after a heart wrenching but wonderful memorial service. His father could not attend the funeral as he is still in the hospital in fairly serious condition. Each night after work my friend has driven to Toronto from Peterborough to stay with his father.
How does this kind of thing happen to people like John and his siblings? How could this happen on his mother’s birthday? A million “Whys?” flood his mind and mine? The tragedy has transformed all Christmas celebrations this year and a few years to come.
John would and does appreciate your prayers through this time. He confessed that it was likely the only thing that helped him through his own difficult moments as he stands with his dad.
Backing up here…
John’s dad was driving on the highway from Cobourg to Peterborough on a normally safe road. His mother was sitting beside her husband of all these years. The car was caught in the slush on the highway during the snow storm – and suddenly veered into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The second vehicle broadsided the older couple and she died instantly.
When John was asked by the police to come and identify his mother’s body – they had him stay 30 feet away from her in the morgue.
As John poured out his account I just listened. The tragedy was greater than I have encountered for a long time.
Side issues…
As John came off the elevator in our local hospital, after identifying his mother, he was shaken to say the least. It was at that moment that a local newspaper reporter approached him to ask, “How are you doing today John?” John quickly asked the police officer to get the guy away before John put him in the morgue. Can you imagine the crass attitudes of some people?
The very next morning, while he was with his father in the Toronto hospital, he received an email from another newspaper person informing him that they had taken a number of photographs of the accident scene and the vehicle. AND – if John wanted to… he could buy these photos from the photographer/newspaper to use in “his family scrap book” later on. No kidding – the guy really did this to the deeply grieving son.
My head jerked as John told me that last account. “You have got to be kidding!” was my response.
Pause…
There are deep burdens that need our help – John and his family are special ones today. The heavy hearts that they have are almost impossible to understand. They face each day with one moment at a time.
John and I have a good relationship. Each month he cuts my hair and I talk to him. Yesterday he cut my hair and listened to him.
Would you please pray for my barber John? He will sure appreciate
it.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS – The Newspaper Guys need prayer too….
How does this kind of thing happen to people like John and his siblings? How could this happen on his mother’s birthday? A million “Whys?” flood his mind and mine? The tragedy has transformed all Christmas celebrations this year and a few years to come.
John would and does appreciate your prayers through this time. He confessed that it was likely the only thing that helped him through his own difficult moments as he stands with his dad.
Backing up here…
John’s dad was driving on the highway from Cobourg to Peterborough on a normally safe road. His mother was sitting beside her husband of all these years. The car was caught in the slush on the highway during the snow storm – and suddenly veered into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The second vehicle broadsided the older couple and she died instantly.
When John was asked by the police to come and identify his mother’s body – they had him stay 30 feet away from her in the morgue.
As John poured out his account I just listened. The tragedy was greater than I have encountered for a long time.
Side issues…
As John came off the elevator in our local hospital, after identifying his mother, he was shaken to say the least. It was at that moment that a local newspaper reporter approached him to ask, “How are you doing today John?” John quickly asked the police officer to get the guy away before John put him in the morgue. Can you imagine the crass attitudes of some people?
The very next morning, while he was with his father in the Toronto hospital, he received an email from another newspaper person informing him that they had taken a number of photographs of the accident scene and the vehicle. AND – if John wanted to… he could buy these photos from the photographer/newspaper to use in “his family scrap book” later on. No kidding – the guy really did this to the deeply grieving son.
My head jerked as John told me that last account. “You have got to be kidding!” was my response.
Pause…
There are deep burdens that need our help – John and his family are special ones today. The heavy hearts that they have are almost impossible to understand. They face each day with one moment at a time.
John and I have a good relationship. Each month he cuts my hair and I talk to him. Yesterday he cut my hair and listened to him.
Would you please pray for my barber John? He will sure appreciate
it.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS – The Newspaper Guys need prayer too….
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
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