©2001 Charles Darby

My wife contacted our doctor and I was admitted to  the hospital. After running several tests they determined I had pancreatitis. They said only three things cause this, drinking, cancer and gallstones.

First they thought I was a heavy drinker. We assured them I was not a drinker at all, much less a heavy drinker. Then they checked for cancer and found none! Then they looked for gallstones and did not find any. Later, they decided I had a gallstone, but it had passed through by the time they checked.

I must admit, I was so weak I could not pray for myself. I was afraid I was dying. I have a lovely wife, 2 beautiful daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; I did not want to leave them. I was too weak to keep my eyes open or to talk to anyone, so I could not have visitors. Does a man of God get afraid? All I know is, I did!

During this time, all my family and friends were praying for me. As one would call another, the prayer list continued to grow.

It was a few days of this, then I began to lose my fear of death. A peace came over me and I was totally relaxed. Before, I did not know this could happen to anyone. I began to think about my daughter, Debbie, who is already in heaven. I was ready to go or I was ready to stay!  All I was able to say was, "Lord, Thy will be done." A few words kept running through my mind, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee".  Over and over I heard these words! Later I found this is a verse in Psalms 56:3 (KJV).

We all need The Lord in everything; we also need one another. Those of us who are in Christ are all part of one body. We need all the body working together. What one cannot do, another can. Let's let The Lord be glorified in us and through us.

When I did not have the strength to pray, seek God, thank God, He used someone else to do it for me!  Whose prayer did He answer? Does it really matter?  When we see a job that is well done, do we brag on the tools that did the job or on the One who did the job? God did the work, the body (the tools) did its part and to God be the Glory!

The doctors said to the wife and I, after it was over, that I was the sickest man they had ever seen that lived!  We were able to be witnesses to all the doctors and nurses through this.

The wife said "The Lord added years to your life and I will add life to your years!" Thank God for a beautiful wife of over 50 years.

Prayer will accomplish much; let us do more of it.  We should be as quick to pray for others as we would for ourselves. God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good!

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