Preparing the Way
Illustration
Stories
Jean sat by the hospital bed watching her brother sleep. She was relieved that the pain medication they gave Vic was working and he was finally resting. This all seemed so sudden. His health had been poor this past year but she hadn’t realized how sick he really was until she got the call that he had been rushed to the hospital.
She couldn’t fault the doctors and nurses as they ran tests and kept up her spirits as they both waited for the results to come back. If she was being honest though, Jean wasn’t really surprised when they told them that there was nothing more that they could do for Vic. She had known this day was coming since his first heart attack three years ago.
Vic shifted in the bed and she wondered if she needed to call for more pain killers but he drifted back to sleep. She noticed his Bible sitting next to his bed and reached over for it. He had the third chapter of Luke earmarked and she read the verses. The words were familiar and she thought back to Sunday school and Mrs. Vasquez teaching them about John the Baptist preparing the way.
She wished she had her brother’s faith at this time. He was the one who went to church and read his Bible and believed with all his heart that Jesus had been born for them. Jean was a bit less certain. The passage, however, was one that her mother had loved this time of year. She would take out all of the Christmas decorations and start preparing with such enthusiasm to make sure everything was ready for the day itself. Jean smiled.
“Do you like what you read?” Vic asked. She looked over to see him propped up on pillows smiling at her.
“I was just thinking about how Mom loved this time of year and about Dad teasing her about being like John the Baptist.” She took his hand. “ How are you doing?”
“I’m doing okay,” he said. “Mom certainly did love this season. I have to admit that I miss seeing her get excited as she got everything ready.”
“Me too. She did enjoy Christmas.’” Jean glanced down at the page open before her. “Are you ready?”
“For Christmas?” Vic winked. “ You know that I’m always a last-minute shopper.”
Jean scowled. “You know that isn’t what I’m talking about.”
“Really?” He waited until her scowl softened. “Do you mean am I ready for what we both know is coming? Yes, I’m as ready as you can get. I’ve given you a copy of my will and my wishes. I don’t think there is much more that needs to be done. I’m tired and while I’d love to stay longer this old body of mine is pretty much done.”
Jean wiped her face with her free hand. “You don’t have any regrets or wish you could have more time?”
“I did a few months ago,” Vic admitted. “Yet as I get closer to the time itself I’m not worried about it anymore. I’ve made my peace and I’m as ready as I’m going to be. I’ve got faith that Jesus has done the impossible for me and so I’m not afraid.”
“Jesus has done the impossible?” Jean tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“Jesus broke the power of sin, rose from death, and has made a sinner like me worthy for heaven.” Vic smiled. “It’s just like what John said about all the valleys being raised and all the mountains being made low. I have faith that because of Jesus nothing stands between me and God.”
Jean frowned. “I thought John was talking about us getting ready for Jesus when he talked about preparing the way.”
“We’re to do what we can - repent and turn back to God.” Her brother yawned. “The impossible stuff though God does for us.”
“Are you tired?”
“A bit. Maybe we can talk more later.” He forced his eyes to remain open. “Can you stay a bit longer and just sit with me?”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Jean watched him settle back to sleep. She looked back at the Bible on her lap and read the words from Luke’s gospel one more time. Jean then closed her eyes and started to pray.
She prayed for her brother that his passage from this life might be gentle. She prayed for herself that she might have the strength she needed to get through this difficult and uncertain time. Then finally she prayed that Jesus might do the impossible and help her discover a meaningful life without her brother in this world.
She couldn’t fault the doctors and nurses as they ran tests and kept up her spirits as they both waited for the results to come back. If she was being honest though, Jean wasn’t really surprised when they told them that there was nothing more that they could do for Vic. She had known this day was coming since his first heart attack three years ago.
Vic shifted in the bed and she wondered if she needed to call for more pain killers but he drifted back to sleep. She noticed his Bible sitting next to his bed and reached over for it. He had the third chapter of Luke earmarked and she read the verses. The words were familiar and she thought back to Sunday school and Mrs. Vasquez teaching them about John the Baptist preparing the way.
She wished she had her brother’s faith at this time. He was the one who went to church and read his Bible and believed with all his heart that Jesus had been born for them. Jean was a bit less certain. The passage, however, was one that her mother had loved this time of year. She would take out all of the Christmas decorations and start preparing with such enthusiasm to make sure everything was ready for the day itself. Jean smiled.
“Do you like what you read?” Vic asked. She looked over to see him propped up on pillows smiling at her.
“I was just thinking about how Mom loved this time of year and about Dad teasing her about being like John the Baptist.” She took his hand. “ How are you doing?”
“I’m doing okay,” he said. “Mom certainly did love this season. I have to admit that I miss seeing her get excited as she got everything ready.”
“Me too. She did enjoy Christmas.’” Jean glanced down at the page open before her. “Are you ready?”
“For Christmas?” Vic winked. “ You know that I’m always a last-minute shopper.”
Jean scowled. “You know that isn’t what I’m talking about.”
“Really?” He waited until her scowl softened. “Do you mean am I ready for what we both know is coming? Yes, I’m as ready as you can get. I’ve given you a copy of my will and my wishes. I don’t think there is much more that needs to be done. I’m tired and while I’d love to stay longer this old body of mine is pretty much done.”
Jean wiped her face with her free hand. “You don’t have any regrets or wish you could have more time?”
“I did a few months ago,” Vic admitted. “Yet as I get closer to the time itself I’m not worried about it anymore. I’ve made my peace and I’m as ready as I’m going to be. I’ve got faith that Jesus has done the impossible for me and so I’m not afraid.”
“Jesus has done the impossible?” Jean tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“Jesus broke the power of sin, rose from death, and has made a sinner like me worthy for heaven.” Vic smiled. “It’s just like what John said about all the valleys being raised and all the mountains being made low. I have faith that because of Jesus nothing stands between me and God.”
Jean frowned. “I thought John was talking about us getting ready for Jesus when he talked about preparing the way.”
“We’re to do what we can - repent and turn back to God.” Her brother yawned. “The impossible stuff though God does for us.”
“Are you tired?”
“A bit. Maybe we can talk more later.” He forced his eyes to remain open. “Can you stay a bit longer and just sit with me?”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Jean watched him settle back to sleep. She looked back at the Bible on her lap and read the words from Luke’s gospel one more time. Jean then closed her eyes and started to pray.
She prayed for her brother that his passage from this life might be gentle. She prayed for herself that she might have the strength she needed to get through this difficult and uncertain time. Then finally she prayed that Jesus might do the impossible and help her discover a meaningful life without her brother in this world.
