Both are guardians of the Kingdom of God
Just as I was editing this issue, I received a call from my mother, telling me that my 90-year-old father, who had suffered a stroke for 13 years, and was also a watcher of the Kingdom of God, was diagnosed with Covid-19 and sent to the hospital. I immediately drove back to New York and met my eighty-year-old mother at the hospital. My father was wearing an oxygen mask on the hospital bed, and my mother was sitting next to him with a look of helplessness. The faces of the two old men were full of exhaustion and fear, which was heartbreaking!
The next day, my mother was also diagnosed and had to be quarantined at home. I had no choice but to go to the hospital every day to take care of my father. After my father suffered a stroke, he was unable to live independently and had to rely on others to take care of him full time. After contracting the epidemic, the original caregiver stopped coming.
As he suffered from strokes for many years and got older, his father gradually lost his brain power and often mixed up various memories: he was clamoring for his mother to come to the hospital, telling him that her mother was also infected with the epidemic, and he urged to go home because her mother was waiting for him. I went to the doctor, but no matter how I explained, it was of no use. They kept blaming me for not caring about my mother.
After a while, he said that he had made an appointment to host a memorial service and couldn't be late... Then he said that he had to change clothes quickly because he wanted to take his grandchildren to a restaurant for dinner. He had already made an agreement and he must do it. He was panting and kept changing stories, telling them over and over again. I must respond to him in every possible way. On the one hand, he was exhausted and on the verge of insanity. On the other hand, I thanked the Lord that he still had such energy despite being infected with the epidemic.
My father had suffered a stroke for many years, and his body and mind were slowly declining, making it impossible to talk to him about any meaningful topics. But whenever he prayed, it was with authority and power. A few months ago, he was asked to pray for his birthday lunch. He couldn’t remember his age and couldn’t figure out which meal we had. But when he prayed, he clearly thanked God for the health and safety of his family and begged God to let his children and grandchildren All can live to glorify God’s name.
Today, while my father was waiting for the doctor to install the Pacemaker on him, my father, who was afraid of pain, suddenly said with clarity, "What's the point of God letting people go through so much pain?" The helplessness people feel when facing the suffering of life and death is real and naked. , it is no different to my father who was once a giant. My heart aches.
In order to seize the time to write this article, while waiting, I read through the editorials I wrote in the past. I happened to see "Let the Watcher Not Be Lonely" written ten years ago in issue 30 -
"My father and mother lived in New York. There was a safety island in the middle of the street in front of their house. As a result, cars could only go to the end of the street and then go back. So my father developed a habit: whenever we go out, he always He would stand on the roadside waiting for our car to turn around and wave to us before entering the house. From when I was a girl to going to work, to getting married and having children, and even later often flying from New York to serve around the world..., he stood there. The figure waiting there to wave was so ordinary, so ordinary that I took it for granted, as if it had always been like this. Until three years ago, when he suffered a stroke and fell down, he could only move inch by inch with the help of others. This waving figure no longer existed. 」
Before leaving the hospital today, I said in my father's ear: "Dad, you have always been my watchman, and now you also let me be your watchman." He looked at me as if he didn't understand. At that moment, I felt I had understood my new mission in life - to become a watchman.
KRC Magazine(Kingdom Resources for Christ) is such a role, and we are willing to serve as watchmen of the Christian faith.Therefore, in each issue, we think carefully, experience with our hearts, and continue to discuss and learn from each other with a prayerful heart. We hope that as a loyal watcher of faith, we can help people more deeply experience the richness and glory of God’s kingdom and live out God’s righteousness. call.
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bless you!
Lily Yang
Lily is the founder and CEO of Kingdom Resources for Christ. After spending many years as an executive in large companies, she now serves in full-time ministry, often speaking, teaching, and leading retreats throughout North America and Asia. She also founded and runs the natural and ethical skincare and cosmetics company, LordnLily.com.