Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Fishing (06/07/04)
TITLE: Fishing for a Heart by Wendy D. By WENDY DECKER 06/10/04 |
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The only thought I had that inspired the word “fishing” was the phrase, “gone fishing,” which could have been a posted note on the door to my imagination.
So I sat in my favorite thinking chair, put my feet up, ate my rice pudding and tried to come up with a good fishing story. Suddenly, the ring of my telephone interrupted my stream of thought, which wasn’t flowing at its normal pace anyhow. My friend Sandy had called to give me an update on her nephew.
David, who is only eighteen years old, has been in the hospital for weeks waiting for a new heart. This young boy had been through so many difficulties in his short life already, and to think it might end before he barely entered into adulthood was difficult to fathom.
Sandy’s sister was the boy’s mother. Sandy had been helping care for him and his siblings because her sister was having personal difficulties in her own life. Fortunately, for David and his siblings, Sandy exposed them to her church, where David met the Lord.
Having the assurance he’d go home to Heaven if he didn’t receive a heart gave Sandy some peace and comfort. Nevertheless, she still prayed day and night that God would let him live.
As amazing as God is, during David’s stay in the hospital He provided him with a Christian room-mate, named Steve, who had just received a donated heart himself. Steve was much older than David and was able to provide him with words of wisdom, encouragement and faith.
David also found out that Steve lived only a mile up the road from him. They became fast friends who prayed together and shared their hopes and dreams for the future.
Sadly, David’s friends and family believed his future here on earth may never come to pass. Just the night before, the doctor informed Sandy that only a small percentage of David’s heart was working and it would be only a matter of days before it would completely stop.
This morning, in the midst of praying for David with her kindergarten class, Sandy’s cell phone rang.
“They have a heart for David,” her husband exclaimed with joy on the other end of the phone.
“Praise God,” Sandy shouted. “They found a heart for David.”
Twelve little five year-olds began to clap with excitement as they witnessed God’s wonderful faithfulness to prayer.
I can only imagine how Sandy must have felt, because as she told me this story chills ran up and down my arms. I had remembered how often my pastor had said that God is never early and never late, He’s always right on time! Indeed he was.
Prior to this event, Steve had gone home from the hospital. But, before he left he prayed with David and assured him God would find a heart for him and everything would be alright.
After arriving home, Steve sent a package to the hospital for David. When it arrived, he opened it up and found a tackle box inside, with a card that said, “David, God is with you and he will heal you. He will give you a heart, and when he does, you and me are goin’ fishing!”
“Fishing…he said “fishing,” I repeated to Sandy.
“Yes, isn’t that nice,” Sandy said, having no idea how my brain was thinking.
“What a wonderful story, Sandy,” I said. “I am so happy for you and David. God is great! Call me after the surgery and let me know how things went. I’ll be praying for him.”
I hung up feeling overjoyed about the news I’d just heard.
Not only did God provide a healthy physical heart for David, but he also gave him a heart that will go on for eternity. In just a short time, David will be out and about with his new heart and new friend catching fish and hearts for God.
If God didn’t hand me this one on a silver platter then I’m the Pope!
So, I sat down at my computer and thanked the Lord for answering David’s prayers and thanked him for giving me the words to share his story.
Like my pastor said, God’s never late and never early, He’s always right on time.