OMTL day 9 Heart of the Matter

Today’s reading was about relating and not waiting.  It talks about how difficult relationships can be and how many obstacles there are to loving other people and being loved by them. 

This morning at exactly 1:22 my phone rang waking me up out of a really good sleep.  I had went to bed about 11:30 and had just settled into that good sleep.  When the phone rings at that time of the night you just know that it’s not going to be good.  My sister was on the other end of the line telling me that my dad’s sugar had bottomed out and wouldn’t even register on the meter.  He was gray in color and incoherent so she had called the rescue squad to come get him.  I jumped out of bed, threw some clothes on and headed to the hospital to meet them there.  A lot of things were going through my mind on the way to the hospital in the car.  What if this was it for my dad?  Would mom be okay?  I started thinking about dad’s last days and wondering if he had regrets about his life.  Last night I saw my dad, he was at my uncles house assisting them with redoing their cabinets.  He’s always doing stuff for other people, he is faithful in his ministry, faithful to his wife and family.  He has always been a hard worker and someone to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. 

When the rescue squad got there, a young lady working with them said, “Hey I know you, you used to stand at the door and welcome people in and you used to always give me a piece of candy.”  They gave dad a glucose tube and he ate something and he registered 81 on the meter.  His color had returned and he went to bed and got some rest and is at the doctor today.  Meanwhile, I’m sitting in the waiting room at the ER.  Kristi calls and says we’re going to bed they fixed dad here and he’s going to the doctor in the morning.  Well, after a caffeinated diet Coke and a big adrenaline rush, I head back home and crawl in the bed only to lay awake for a couple of hours thinking about what could have been and thanking God for another chance. 

There’s nothing like that 1:22 AM phone call to make you take inventory in where you are in your relationships in life.  My dad knows I love him and I know he loves me.  Sunday I had fixed lunch for him and mom at my house, that’s not something I do often, but I think it’s something that I will try to do more.  Time spent together is of great value and is never wasted.  Relationships are really where it’s at.