Retirement

I was awakened at 1:45 AM this morning by a phone call from the hospital, telling me that one of our sweet little shut-ins had gone home to Jesus. She apparently had had a massive heart attack Friday evening, and then a stroke and she wasn't found until Saturday morning when friends couldn't contact her. By that time she has also contracted pneumonia, so the outlook wasn't very good. I had gone to see her and the family in the hospital on Saturday, spoke with them and had a prayer with them.

I came home on Saturday thinking how much I don't like to make calls like that. I understand and completely believe that God does work through his word to accomplish what he wants (even though we may have no idea what that might be). The families I visit always seemed comforted by the consolation and prayers I bring, but that doesn't affect how I feel.

I dislike those kinds of calls because I leave thinking that I haven't been able to do a thing. I realize it's more of a case that I don't see anything happening, and that the word works quietly often behind the scenes. But I will admit that looking forward retirement I will be glad not to get any early morning telephone calls about deaths in the congregation.