A Surrogate Farewell

Tom approached Larry sadly in the pod.  "My mother is at the hospital dying and I'm afraid I won't get to say goodbye." he whispered.  Normally in a case like this a person petitions the judge for a day long furlough, but the judge was out of town and so unless Tom's mother hung on a little longer, he was going to miss her passing.  "Can you go see her?" he asked anxiously.  Larry promised we would go see her that day. 

So that night we drove over to Medina General and Susan went in to see 82 year old Mrs. Jones.  A nurse met Susan in the hallway and explained that she was very unresponsive.  "Perhaps a prayer WOULD help," she kindly offered while adjusting the oxygen mask that covered her mouth and nose. 

Mrs. Jones was stone cold, breathing slowly and irregularly.  Susan approached the bed and touched her shoulder.  "Tom couldn't come to visit you," she said into the woman's ear, but he sent me to tell you that he loves you."  She moaned and moved her head.  "Yes,  he loves you,"  Susan assured her stroking her hair. 

Susan opened her Bible and read Mrs. Jones the 23rd Psalm.... "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil..." The eternal finality of this moment broke Susan's heart.  "Mrs. Jones, if you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you don't have to fear this valley...the Lord will take you through it.....to Heaven."   Susan talked for a while about Jesus and what it meant to be with Him, all the while wondering if Mrs. Jones could even hear her,  understand her,  or better yet agree with her.  Tragically, only Heaven knows.  Susan prayed over this woman with a gentle hopeful prayer.

Susan watched the poor bruised body struggle with breath....and then nothing.  She leaned forward.  "Mrs. Jones," she implored urgently.   The woman's chest rose and fell still again.  With all the love she would wish that Tom could be there to offer,  Susan bent over Mrs. Jones and gently hugged her.  "Tom loves you....he loves you....and,  he said to tell you good-bye."  She reluctantly left the room....not knowing Mrs. Jones' spiritual condition...only the Lord could know. Mrs. Jones died in the middle of that night....with her last visitor, a prayer and a surrogate farewell.