Comfort and Joy

It's late and it's been a L-O-N-G couple of days for me.

Friday I was on call 24 hours at the hospital and it was crazy busy....making rounds on patients from the day before, seeing patients who were added to the seemingly endless surgery schedule, and visiting folks scheduled for surgery Saturday. I wasn't sure when the madness would end and I wanted the 24 hours to come to an end quickly.

It didn't, not soon enough.

During my crazy day, I noticed a name on the add-on schedule.....the same name as one of my neighbors. Sure enough, about an hour later he rolled into our "holding area" to be evaluated before his unplanned surgery. You see, a few hours later he was running an errand and slipped on a concrete ramp tearing a tendon in his leg, which required immediate surgical attention.

We live in an older neighborhood with many "older" residents, including both our side neighbors. We have grown to care for them and "watch out" for them, just like they do for us. I feel like they are family!

While talking with Mr. Joe, I asked him where was his wife, Mrs. Rosie. Although his grandson was with him, I knew she would be worried about him.

Mrs. Rosie was taking their youngest daughter, Deidra who is 35, home from the hospital. Deidra had been in the hospital for the last week after a SEVERE ashtma attack. Which, at one point, required her to be on the the "breathing machine". She was making progress and finally able to go home.

I had the privilege of taking care of Mr. Joe during his surgery and checked on him before he left the recovery room to go to his room. He let me know that Mrs. Rosie was up in his room. I told him I would go check on her before I made my final rounds for the evening.

As I got off the elevator and turned the corner, I met Mrs. Rosie in the hall. She hugged me and when I asked her where she was going she told me she had to go to the emergency room. She said Deidra was coming back to the hospital. She had no other details but a bit of urgency in her voice. I scribbled my cell phone number down and gave it to her to have, just in case.

I said a prayer for my neighbors and their daughter. Finished my rounds. And finally got a few hours of rest before coming home this morning.

My phone rang about lunch time, I didn't recognize the number but answered anyway.

I heard Mrs. Rosie's quivering voice on the line....she immediately thanked me several times for taking care of Mr. Joe and then she said, "she's passed, Deidra's passed". She began crying and said, "my baby girl is gone".

My sweet neighbor's 35 year old baby girl won't be sharing Christmas with them this year. The Lord chose this time to take her home.

I wish I knew why! Parents shouldn't have to bury their children, but my neighbors will.

As we came home this evening, our neighborhood luminaries were lit. There were trees, reindeer, stars, inflatables and manger scenes adorning yards all over....but not next door. The lights, decorations and nativity Mr. Joe and his grandson put up earlier this week sat in darkness.

Please take time this holiday season to say a prayer for Mrs. Rosie and Mr. Joe and all their family. They have 6 other children. Pray God will COMFORT them and heal their hurting hearts. And remember Mr. Joe as he recovers from his surgery.

And then take time to thank God for sending his son, Jesus, that we all may know the JOY and true meaning of Christmas.