Home | Artist Bio | News | Watercolor Gallery | Stories | Ebook | Watercolor Desktops | Specials | Original Watercolors | Contact Pamela
A Change of Heart
The last time I saw my beloved father-in-law, we sat on the warm sand, watching my children play in the surf. As I casually mentioned his upcoming surgery, I searched for the right moment to ask him a question.
My heart felt heavy, so I decided to take a risk. “Dad, are you ready to make peace with God?” I hoped he would reconsider his decision. But his answer remained the same.
“No,” he said, “I'm not a religious man.”
A month later at 76, my father-in-law went in for a routine surgery. He successfully made it through the surgery; however, he caught a staph infection. Within days, he rapidly declined.
Two months later, my mother and her friend traveled to Virginia for a conference and visited my father-in-law in the hospital. The two women spoke to him about his need to receive Jesus to experience life after death. They explained how Jesus Christ died on the cross and how God made Him alive again, so we could live forever with Him. And they concluded by asking, “Bob, are you ready to ask Jesus into your life?”
Almost immediately, he replied, “Yes.” Tearfully, he prayed out loud. He asked God to forgive his stubbornness and mistakes. He invited Jesus to come into his life, and he promised to do his best to love and follow Him.
When my mother told me about his decision, I cheered. Amazingly, God had brought my husband and me together in Japan, and He used my mother from Michigan to lead my father-in-law in Virginia to Jesus. I learned that God isn't limited by time and space.
Over the next three months, my father-in-law's health continued to diminish until it became evident that he only had a few days to live. My last phone call with him took place a few days before he slipped into a coma. The ICU nurse held the phone up to his ear as I tried to convey my love.
Upon hearing my voice, my father-in-law began to mumble excitedly. Though unable to understand him, he urgently tried to tell me something. After hanging up the phone, I grieved. Saying “goodbye” to him overwhelmed me.
Over the next few months, I thought about what my father-in-law might have tried to communicate during our last phone call. Perhaps he wanted to tell me that he changed his answer to my question on the beach. I think he said, “I believe, Pamela, I believe. I believe.”
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
