Wisdom DateMfano

Prepare

A few days before his discharge date, I slipped to Bill’s room for our usual lunchtime visit. I had no sooner passed the threshold when Bill began, “During the night, I awakened and thought I was dying.” While I tried to grasp this news, he hurried on, “I grabbed my Bible and it fell open to this book and my eyes fell on this verse.” Handing me his Bible with the indicated verse already underlined, he added, “I’m not going to get well.” 

Taking the Bible, I read the verse for myself, “Thus says the Lord: “Set your house in order for you shall die, and not live” (2 Kings 20:1). Hardly breathing, I read the rest of the chapter. It was the story of King Hezekiah, who was sick and near death. When the Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to confirm that he would not live, Hezekiah humbly prayed, and God granted him an additional fifteen years of life. 

Bill was convinced that God had spoken definitively, but I could not—I would not—accept the prophecy. I skipped down to the fifteen-year extension, held on with both hands, and refused to even discuss to it with him.

Bill was discharged from the hospital in early February. His doctor was still unsure about a complete healing of the infection, but prescribed oral antibiotics and encouraged him to be as active as he could.

On February 22, we celebrated Bill’s fortieth birthday. The girls made cards and decorations, and I made a special dinner. 

But in the midst of the joy of being home, Bill steadily “set his house in order.” He showed me where the receipts for our taxes were kept and told me where to file them. He showed me where our important papers were boxed and encouraged me to build a house. I listened without comment. I still couldn't accept that he was dying; I refused to even think about it. When I suggested that we go to Danville for Easter, he looked at me sadly. “Please, don't wish my time away,” he said.

In late February, I arrived home from work, to find Bill looking particularly pale and tired. I pushed down the alarm I felt. As he walked the girls the short half-mile to school that morning, he had become so breathless and weak he thought he was going to die right there. He had sent the children on to school with the assurance he would be fine, but had to sit on a wall for thirty minutes before he was able to walk home.

In those weeks I was panicked—Bill was at peace. There are many ways to face the fear of death. Some people pretend it isn’t there and think if they don’t talk about it everything will be okay. I’m so glad that God gave Bill the wisdom and love to share the truth with me. I’m so glad he obeyed and prepared our family at the Lord’s instruction. This was God’s goodness to us both. Today’s Scriptures are about God’s peace. Be still and know Him, dear child.