Dana’s wife Susan has been sorting through his computer, and found a writing from his first days in the hospital. It appears to have been intended as another Journey post, so she forwarded it to be added to Dana’s blog.
The writing ends as if in mid-thought, before he had a chance to finish and attach Bible verses to it. But as usual, it’s filled with Dana’s heart and wisdom. I pray that it will lift us up.
Here’s Dana’s final Journey, written November 2 or 3.
I heard and watched a song on YouTube my first day in the hospital called ‘Miracles.’ It begins:
The One who made the blind to see
Is moving here in front of me
The One who made the deaf to hear
Is silencing my every fear
I believe in You
You’re the God of miracles
The One who put death in its place
His life is flowing through my veins
At the live worship service in the video, a pastor stood and shared that the husband-and-wife authors of the song went to their church, and had written the lyrics the day after their baby died. The leader, who has witnessed many miracles, told his church that the parents wrote the song to honor the One who is constantly loving, but who chose not to heal their baby. The song is all about the goodness of God.
Tuesday, the night before I went to the hospital, my old friend Mark and a woman named Miranda, who had recently been healed of cancer, came to our house. We joined hands, and the three of them prayed for my immediate healing.
I loved it. Everything reminded me of God… my wife, an old friend, and a new friend were praying for a fellow brother in the Body of Christ, just as so many of you have prayed earnestly through the last days… and weeks… and years.
Our nurse friend Maria called Wednesday morning and told us my room was ready. I asked her, “Maria, can you do a Complete Blood Count first? Many, many are praying for us, and some friends prayed in our home last night for instant healing.
She replied, “Of course, Dana. That’s what we always do first.”
When I arrived, Maria told me she had told others my message. She claimed that I had ‘The Best Friend Ever,’ (Jesus) and that no one should be surprised if there is a miracle.
Soon though, I texted Mark and told him my platelet counts were still very low, and that they were preparing me for surgery to start the whole transplant process. After surgery, I read his reply that they were still lifting me up in prayer, but I am sure he was disappointed.
Mark has witnessed many healings, including Miranda’s, who confused the doctors when she reported for a surgery she did not need. She told them Jesus had healed her. After much pushing and prodding and several CT Scans they sent her home.
Mark and the others were simply being obedient. A missionary friend from Africa had called him Tuesday to see if he would pray for me before I went to the hospital Wednesday. Mark called Miranda and they came to our house as servants of God, and prayed with faith, hope, and love.
I have learned to be content with the Lord’s answers. The truth is: He is more than enough. But how does a parent write a praise song to our miracle-working God when their baby dies? Their church leader recognized the faith of these parents, who honored ‘Our Best Friend Ever’ by writing a beautiful song in their grief.
This is the God we serve, and so we give Him our best. Give Him the best honor you can, the richest praise you can, the deepest trust you can. This attitude should consume our thinking and our lives.
At work, work as unto the Lord, and not just for man. In community, be the best neighbor you can. Do not annoy others with your faith, but let your light shine that they may see your good works and glorify the One they might not even know.
Our stories of God’s goodness should be known somehow… for they show that God is love. So if I dance, I dance with all my energy… for Him. If I play, I play with enthusiasm and joy… for Him. If I live, I will live to honor Christ. If I die, I pray He will be honored too.