A
Here is a story that happened in my community a couple of years ago ...
======
A couple of years ago, a local wife and mother was walking out of church one Sunday morning when she collapsed in the aisle. She was rushed to the county hospital via ambulance and then airlifted to a heart center in Indianapolis. Though not yet 40 years old, this lady had suffered a massive coronary with heavy damage to her heart. Worse yet, she had been deprived of oxygen long enough that, by evening, she was on life support and showing zero brain activity. Doctors told her husband to gather their family to say goodbyes because she was more or less gone already.
The family did gather around her bedside, and word went out into the community of the family's dire situation. People gathered together and prayed, in our homes and churches, on Facebook and at vigils, and in our private moments. Hundreds, if not thousands, of voices united prayer for our fallen sister.
Most of us went to bed that night with heavy heards, and some stayed awake 'til morning, checking for text messages or refreshing Facebook pages again and again. We awoke the next morning to news of a miracle ... not only had our friend NOT succumbed during the night, she actually woke up on her own!
Within a few days, she was breathing fully on her own, and within a month she was back home. She was left with a weakened heart and has undergone an extensive rehab, but she has resumed her full life as a wife, mother, and community member.
Most of all, though, our friend is a living, breathing reminder about the power of prayer and what we can accomplish together.
======
A couple of years ago, a local wife and mother was walking out of church one Sunday morning when she collapsed in the aisle. She was rushed to the county hospital via ambulance and then airlifted to a heart center in Indianapolis. Though not yet 40 years old, this lady had suffered a massive coronary with heavy damage to her heart. Worse yet, she had been deprived of oxygen long enough that, by evening, she was on life support and showing zero brain activity. Doctors told her husband to gather their family to say goodbyes because she was more or less gone already.
The family did gather around her bedside, and word went out into the community of the family's dire situation. People gathered together and prayed, in our homes and churches, on Facebook and at vigils, and in our private moments. Hundreds, if not thousands, of voices united prayer for our fallen sister.
Most of us went to bed that night with heavy heards, and some stayed awake 'til morning, checking for text messages or refreshing Facebook pages again and again. We awoke the next morning to news of a miracle ... not only had our friend NOT succumbed during the night, she actually woke up on her own!
Within a few days, she was breathing fully on her own, and within a month she was back home. She was left with a weakened heart and has undergone an extensive rehab, but she has resumed her full life as a wife, mother, and community member.
Most of all, though, our friend is a living, breathing reminder about the power of prayer and what we can accomplish together.
. In Your awesome name, amen.