|
|
I work as a Registered Nurse in a rural hospital. I was raised in a Christian Church all of my life and I believe Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God. After a close friend of mine died from cancer, at her funeral I couldn't help but wonder if there was in fact a heaven. Were we as her friends and family just trying to comfort ourselves in the fact that she's gone? Where is the proof that people go to heaven or hell? Two years after her death, I cared for a woman who was also dying of cancer, her daughter was there to care for her but there was always a tension between the two women. Ellen (not her real name) was dismissed to her home to live out the remainder of her life with her daughter Ann (not real name)at her side. I didn't think that I would ever see these two women again. A few months later, when I clocked into work I saw that Ellen had been admitted to the hospital for uncontrolled cancer pain. Ann was there as well as a volunteer who had been helping Ann with the round the clock care that Ellen required at home. As I sat in Ellen's room charting in my nurses notes I made the comment to the volunteer about how God sometimes keeps people here on earth a little longer than we would like for reasons unknown to us. Since Ellen was in such excruciating pain we kept her sedated to the point that she was no longer conscious of what was going on around her. I didn't know what good she was doing to anyone anymore and questioned why God wanted to keep her here with us. The volunteer was quick to point out the she knew exactly why Ellen was still with us. We had sent Ann home earlier to get some rest so it was just Ellen, the volunteer and me in this hospital room alone. The volunteer sat down and told me this story..... After her diagnosis of cancer, Ellen was sent home to die within three months. Ann lived three hours away and was unable to take off much work to care to Ellen so she hired some nurses to check in on her mother periodically as Ellen was still able to care for herself. In a matter of months though, Ellen's health deteriorated to the point that she could only lie in bed and visit briefly with her caregivers. Several times friends would stop by and try to talk to Ellen about God and how he could still change her life but she refused to listen and would send her visitors away stating that He was never in her life to begin with. You see, Ellen was abused as a child and she wondered how any merciful God could allow a child to go through what she had to go through. She hated her mother and never forgave her for the life that she had to live. Once Ellen married, she had two children of her own (Ann and Billy) and unfortunatly she abused and neglected them just as she was treated. This explained the tense relationship between Ann and Ellen and the fact that her son refused to come and be with her in her last days. While she was still at home, with Ann and the volunteer at her bedside, she began to close her eyes and spoke of the pretty lights and the beautiful faces of all of the babies she could see. Ann and the volunteer felt that this was her dieing moment so they held her hands and spoke to her as she continued to tell them of the wonderful things that she could see. She spoke to "Frank" and smiled and told him that she was on her way to see him. (Frank was her husband who had passed away three years earlier) Then her smile faded and she grew pale and drew in a deep breath. Ann and the volunteer looked at each other and felt that she had just left this earthly home. All of the sudden, Ellen screamed the most horrid scream they had ever heard and fought them to climb out of bed. It took both Ann and the volunteer to hold her down and talk to her. After a few minutes Ellen replied, "It was Hell." Ann answered back, "Yes, Mom it is hell to go through the pain like this." Ellen opened her eyes and looked right at Ann and said, " No Ann, I saw Hell." A minister was called in and told of what had happened. He said that he had heard of stories like this before and he believed that God gave Ellen a glimpse of what Heaven was like and then showed her what she would be facing if she continued her life without Jesus. Ellen thought about this and told him stories of what she had gone through with her mother as a child. These were stories that had never been shared with anyone. Ann was stunned that Ellen had gone through the same things that she put Ann and Billy through as children themselves. The minister pointed out that some people go through events in their lives that others don't have to endure and this can't always be explained. But in order for Ellen to go to that wonderful place that she had experienced before seeing Hell she must forgive her mother and herself and accept God as her savior. Ellen took a few minutes to think about this and then she sighed and smiled and said that she wanted Jesus to be her savior. There was not a dry eye in that house. Ann had seen and heard all of this and accepted Jesus as her savior that day also. She forgave her mother and they held each other in that bed and cried. Two days later, Ellen was admitted to the hospital as mentioned earlier for uncontolled pain related to terminal cancer. After hearing this story I also knew why God had kept her alive for so long. I would have never had a chance to learn of this incredible event unless she had been kept alive to be admitted to the hospital. God kept Ellen alive for ME to realize that there is a Heaven and my good friend who had passed away two years earlier is with Him singing with His Angels. I no longer doubt who He is or where I am destined to go as long as I follow His Will. Ellen died the very next day and she died with a peace about her and a very slight smile at the corners of her mouth. Ann dealt with it okay, and she is trying to get a closer relationship with Billy since he wouldn't be with them in their time of need. I will never forget Ellen and Ann and will always remember this as one of those life changing situations that will always be in my heart. It makes my job a little more rewarding and it helps me keep a fresh outlook that God Has a Plan for everything, just trust Him and He Will Deliver... Revelation 3:21 To Him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Click HERE to return to the edited story Click HERE to create a banner that links to this story! Your e-mail address will be kept private!
HE INVITES, INC., a non-profit corporation.
These testimonies are not intended to provide |
|||||
