“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” Matthew 5:4.
Today, I chose to go to the hospital as a part of my afternoon ministry. Once we got there, we split off into three teams. Each team would go to different parts of the hospital and pray for the patients. My team went to the children’s wing. This is probably the hardest wings to go and visit. Here are children ranging from infants to elementry-age. Each of the children had their mother sitting next to them. Their eyes were bloodshot red from a lack of sleep and from crying. Each of the mothers were caring so much for their sick child that they would never leave their side. There were some fathers too, but most of them were working. If this wasn’t already hard to watch, the hospital only provides a pillow and a bed for its patients. This leaves the parents and the family to provide everything else such as water, food, and blankets. Blessed are those who mourn…
I went up to one of the patients laying in his bed. He had an IV in his left arm and was asleep. There was an information packet on the front of the bed listing of basic information, such as name, age, and when he arrived. His name was Isaac and was only three months old, sick with pnenouma. Both of his parents were sitting beside him. His mom, eyes red like the other mothers’, was sitting toward his feet holding his right hand while he was sleeping. His father was sitting toward his head with a small rag fanning him to cool him off because there was no AC. Both of them looked liked they hadn’t slept in days. I went to the head of the bed and reached out my arm over Isaac to pray for him. I bowed my head and began to pray. Both of his parents also closed their eyes and bowed their heads. I prayed that God would heal him and return him to his family so that they would know the power of God’s healing. Then the Holy Spirit prompted me to start praying in Spanish so that the parents could understand some of what I was saying. I don’t remember everything that I said, but I remember saying: “Dios, ayuda este nino. Y ayuda su familia porque su hijo esta enfermo y ellos estan cansados. En su nombre, amen”. (God help this boy. And help his family because their son is sick and they are tired. In your name, amen). When I finshed, they both looked at me and nodded in gratitude. The mother’s eyes started to water a little. For they shall be comforted…
I couldn’t help tearing up a little bit. I wanted to start crying. I didn’t just feel bad for them and for help, or take pity on them, but I felt their pain. For those two minutes of prayer, I was grieving this pain with them. I couldn’t help but to try to imagine myself there. I imagined myself in Isaac’s bed with my mom sitting next to me. Sitting there helpless but having to rely on God. I imagined how she would feel. Tired, exhausted, and ready to go home. But she wouldn’t leave until I left with her. It made me even more grateful for my mother and for his mother that they both care so much about their sons. I couldn’t help but to imagine myself as the father, doing everything in his power to make his son feel comforted and loved. I couldn’t possibly imagine what it would be like for me to have a brand new baby boy and wonder if he would survive till the next day. It made me even more grateful for my father because he always had me in his mind. That he would be willing to make a sacrifce if it meant making me feel more comforatable and loved. It made me even more grateful for God that he gave me these two blessings. For these two loving and caring individuals that love and care for me so much. That have even made me tear up a little as I am writing this thinking and thinking about them. It made me even more grateful for God that He has taught them how to model Himself in His love. No matter how hard things get, or how broken I may be, He is always right beside me. This experience made me even more grateful for God that He has given this boy the same blessing that I have received. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted…
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” Romans 12:15
