God's Best!
by June Loebach

It's Wednesday noon and I've just returned from a weekly Bible study at the church I attend in Windsor, Ontario. Today's topic: Does God Heal Today? The issue: Should I expect God to heal people today? Before leaving, I had to apologize to everyone for ‘hogging the floor!’ I could not curb my enthusiasm for such a powerful subject.

Let me back up my story a bit, to yesterday, when I spoke on the phone to my cousin, Ralph LaFlamme. He and his wife, Diane, had asked me if I would write an article for their newsletter. I agreed to pray about it. Just yesterday, I told Ralph I had not forgotten, I just wasn't sure what the message was! He replied, "Let God guide you." I left my meeting this morning with thoughts wild with excitement dancing through my mind and heart. I was confident this dancing was a song from the Lord, a song He's asked me to sing to you as I share my story, better still, His story.

I will back up six or seven months, when many of you dear readers were lifting up my mother, Pearl Thomas, in prayer. Ralph and Diane featured mom's surgery and subsequent recovery in their newsletter. The article, A Pearl of Great Price, told of mom's struggle for medical assistance in Canada and how God had opened the door for tricuspid valve surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. It also outlined all the obstacles and complications that arose, and how this dear saint of God continued to praise and trust Him along the road to recovery. I remember being a little unsure about their ‘boldness’ to print such an article. After all, we weren't ‘fully recovered’ yet!

During those three weeks in intensive care, many issues arose, including two subsequent surgeries following the first ‘big’ surgery. As needs arose, God, in His infinite goodness, provided. God had entrusted one of the country's leading heart surgeons and his faithful and dedicated staff to care for mom. God had given her His best and they in turn, gave their best. The medical personnel, including the heart surgeon, were astounded and filled with awe and admiration as they witnessed this frail little woman with this great big faith, courageously face life… and death.

Music would flood the hospital hallway from mom's room, where mom, even though unable to utter a sound because of the ventilator, would lift both arms up towards the ceiling, praising God. When unable to even lift her arms, she would quietly tap her finger, and with each tap a "praise God" would ring out! The nurses would say it was the potassium or other drug they had just given her causing that. To that I would respond, "No way, she's praising God!"

A couple of days before mom passed away on her 75th birthday, I noticed her constantly staring at one corner of the room, entranced by something. I asked her if something or someone was there, since I couldn't see anything!. She smiled and nodded, “yes.” When I asked her if it was something ‘good,’ she smiled again as if comforted by whatever or whomever she saw. I believe at this time, God was allowing her a ‘glimpse’ of heaven and assuring His child that she would not travel this road home alone.

Ralph and Diane's article, A Pearl Of Great Price, had been forwarded to me just prior to its publication. The night before mom passed away, our good friend, Magdalena, accompanied me to the hospital and shared the article with her. Together, we prayed with mom, praying the 91st Psalm and other powerful scripture verses. During that time, Magdalena heard the Lord say, "Trust me and praise me." To us, it was a confirmation from God that even though things did not look good, it would be fine. I felt strongly that God was going to help us ‘cross the Red Sea’ to safe ground. Surely, He would not abandon us midstream, only to be swallowed up by the deep water. Mom and I had referred to this passage of scripture many times previously, and so its message lay close to my heart.

That night, I struggled to stay awake, having had several previous nights without rest, and was so grateful for Magdalena and her kindness to mom. While I snatched some much needed sleep, she sang to mom and showered her with love. At one point, I woke up and, remembering the newsletter article, pulled it out and Magdalena read it to mom. She listened carefully to every word but looked at us both with such a puzzled look. At the time, I did not comprehend its meaning.

Today, six months later, I can still see mom's expression clearly. Now I understand its message, "No, that's not how the story ends, don't you see, I'm going home, home to be with Jesus!" That was approximately 1 a.m. November 23rd. She ‘went home’ at 1:05 a.m. November 24th.

I shall always cherish those last few precious moments with mom. I was alone with her that very last night and, during those final moments, I wished her a happy birthday and expressed my love to a mother I felt God had hand-chosen for me, His best. I told her how proud of her I was, but more importantly how proud God was of her, for she had truly fought a valiant battle. I told her that it was not the birthday celebration I had planned for her 75th, but if she wanted to spend her birthday in heaven, it was okay. And, as I finished those words, she left! God had a feast prepared for her 75th, and all heaven was rejoicing, waiting to celebrate with her!

I felt tired and numb as my husband Terry and I arrived home around three in the morning. Our sixteen-year-old son, Robert, came out of his room and, before we were able to tell him that his grandmother had passed away, he told us of the dream he just had. The dream was, I believe, a gift from God. In his dream, Robert saw grandma walking up to the gates of heaven, and waiting at the gate, was grandpa. He smiled at her, they hugged, and together they walked hand-in-hand into heaven. Both were strong and vibrant; there was no sickness, no suffering!

And so, God kept His word, He did not abandon us midstream, He brought mom safely through the deep waters, to the other shore. Afterwards, however, I took a little longer ‘making it to shore,’ my mind racing with all sorts of questions. "Why Lord, why?" I would cry out. And to this, He gently answered, "Trust me and praise me for the things you understand, and trust me and praise me for the things you don't understand." I believe He was calling me to a new level of faith, to trust Him even when the chips were down, for all circumstances serve Him.

One morning I was pouring out my "whys" to Deb, another good friend, who floored me with her gentle insight, "I'm convinced there will be people in heaven, who will come up to you and your mother and say, ‘I'm here because of your testimony.’" Deb had been up at the hospital during one of our ‘real critical’ times and said the presence of the Lord in the room was so strong that no one could enter it without being affected by God and His love. If one life has been won for the Kingdom, then every tear shed was worth it! I would do it over again in a heartbeat!

Does God heal today? Yes! In more ways than we can dream or imagine! We have a big God, an awesome God, who calls us to trust Him and praise Him. Thank you Ralph and Diane, and all you dear readers for the prayers and support you have given us. "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap, if we do not grow weary." (Galatians 6:9)

<<Previous Article --- Top of Page --- Next Article>>