My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

A Story of True Love!

I post pictures because I love eye candy mostly, but today I post pictures to familiarize you with the people in the story.

My son and his 2 boys several years ago. Boys are now 19 and 11.

Son and hubby last summer in southern California.


Son, wife and boys at thanksgiving 5 or 6 years ago.

I'll try to get through this without sobbing but, alas, that seems to be the "mood of the day" since my son told me this story 2 days ago. Let me start from the beginning a few years back.



My son and daughter have both done very well. Neither one needs to work anymore and they're in their mid 40s. They worked diligently to get where they are and simply love to work. They are both very loving kids and treat their parents very well emotionally and financially, although, we ask them to stop giving us stuff! Hubby and I are very proud of both of them. This story is about our son, who I'll just refer to at "K" since I don't often give out their names publicly. This is absolutely NOT to brag but it makes a difference when you know the whole story.



K, my son, and his wife own care homes in southern California. She is the business manager for them because if she depended on K they'd be toast! LOL She has the head for business and he has the heart. ;-) So after golfing, which is the love of his life after wife and 2 boys - now 19 and 11 - K decided to go back to school and get a nursing degree this time. You wouldn't believe what they pay out each month in nursing fees for their care homes. If K had an RN degree they could keep that money and start a side business to complement their care home business. So he got the RN degree last year and wanted to work for the VA hospital. He has always been a tender-hearted kid and just wanted to give back to his country since he was in the Marines as a 21 year old young man. He was hired. This is where the story I'm about to tell you begins. You needed that background.



Several days ago he had 4 days off. Well, he works the night shift so it can give him time to golf (Heaven forbid, he can't golf every single day, but he honors the Sabbath and does not golf on sunday). There's a man in a bed on his floor in the VA Hospital named M, affectionately known as Big M. He has cancer. He and his wife talked it over and prayed about it and they decided to be aggressive in their pursuit of the cancer. K and he bonded because he's a former Marine also. When K came back on duty that night after 4 days off Big M started sobbing. Now this is a 6' 5", 240 lb. man. He sobbed and hugged Keith because he was so glad to see him. K is the only one there that takes such good care of him that he really missed him. His wife has also befriended my son. K went out from the curtain around M's bed to get to the other side and the patient in another bed called his name "K"!! K turned and looked and the other patient had a big smile on his face and told him also that he was soooo glad K was back. All the patients on K's floor say he is the one who cares about them. He will drop whatever he's doing to get them their pain meds. He says that is the most important thing in the world to him - making sure they have their pain medications. They absolutely adore and love him and K loves them much also. He just wants to make a difference in the lives of those who have fought for our country.



He called me and told me they removed a chunk of M's colon the other night and told me specifics about it that aren't printable here but K says it's still very serious. I cried and cried. Then I thought about our religion. My son holds the Priesthood of God and can give blessings. I told him to go and give M a blessing of healing. K said mom, he isn't our religion. I said it doesn't matter. He said I'm not sure he'd accept it. I said any man or woman who is dying would accept it no matter what; you/they don't give up hope!! I was adamant about him finding another priesthood holder, perhaps even in the hospital, and asking M if he'd accept a blessing. K felt hope at that point and said he'd absolutely do it.



Well, not one to sit around and wait for things to happen and also because it touched my heart so much, I called K last night and asked for M's room and bed number. He couldn't believe I'd call M myself and just chuckled. Now, this is a man who's been raised by me his whole life and doesn't get it?!?!?!? So I rang up M and his wife answered the phone at his bedside. (K's only instruction to me was to make it short as he is on heavy pain meds. Sheeeesh!! LOL) I asked for M and she asked who I was and I told her and she handed M the phone. I introduced myself to him and he was flabbergasted that a mother of his nurse would call him in a hospital bed in Calif. all the way from Idaho. He also said I sounded like a teenager. I guess I had his wife a bit "concerned" for a few seconds wondering what chick would be calling her hubby. But I didn't keep him on the line long and I asked him what religion he was. He told me and I asked him if K could give him a blessing. He was astounded and I think he was in tears to think my son loved him so much and I loved him so much to help him live long enough to see his 6 kids get through college. M is a 30 year old black man and we're white. Color of skin has absolutely nothing to do with love in your heart. He told me that he could not believe someone who didn't even know him could care so much about him. Yes, we love M and he's touched our lives so deeply just in the past few days. K will give him a blessing and we're hoping beyond hope he is left on this earth for many years more. He and his wife sounded like sweethearts and I'm sure he and K are friends for life, however long that may be for either of them.



I've wept and sobbed my heart for 2 days on this. I can't even begin to imagine how it would be for M and his wife and their 6 children who must be young if he's only 30 years old. I've prayed so much these last 2 days for the Lord to spare this wonderful young man. I know my son will never ever forget him. I won't either. He loves my son and my son loves him. They'll have a bond that transcends this life into the next one. I'll meet M someday whether in California or heaven and when I do I'll smooch and hug that huge man for the love he has given my son and the love my son feels for him.



It's taken me hours to write this. I've sobbed and wept through a half box of tissues but I think it's important for people to truly feel this love "that knows no end." Transcends gender, color, religion, background, age, etc. Love is love. You either have it or you don't. I'm talking about that "true love of Christ."



I had to write this to get it out of my head and heart. I ask only that those reading it pray for this sweet young man and his wife that he makes it. Prayer can definitely help. If you don't believe that then there isn't much more to be said. I believe that my son and my daughter both have this kind of love in their hearts. I'm very proud of both of them!
~*~



The parents who raised this boy.......uuuuuhhhh, we were a bit younger in this picture but yep, it's us in our "yuppie" days in Mexico. Gotta laugh at those hairdos and the weird hat they made hubs put on that day. Sheeeesh........ ;-)

30 comments:

  1. I popped in to wish you a happy pink Saturday! I love the story you shared. Thanks for sharing and caring.

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  2. Connie...

    What a lovely story...and yes, we will pray for Mike!

    ~Blessings,
    Jan

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  3. Connie sweetie that was such a moving story... My heart goes out for this young man... It is so sad that this disease has not fund a cure yet... He is in my thoughts and so is your son... what a wonderful man he is... Do to his raising no doubt... Love

    (((HUGS))
    Donna

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  4. Connie, what a touching story. How wonderful that your son is there, to bring comfort and strength to this man. He will be in my prayers.
    Thank you for sharing this.

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  5. This post is the reason I love you Connie! Need I say more.

    xo Cathy

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  6. Connie, thank you for sharing, and I have said a prayer for Mike, his family and his care providers.

    I can see why you are proud of your children.

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  7. AMEN!! to that Connie..girl you have me wiping my tears on my old Red robe this am..I will pray for Big Mile and his family..You and your DH are very proud I can tell to have raised a fine man..
    Girl we need this last week when all I seen was so much hate on the blogs about the up coming election..Its all about Love for me..its heals all..and through God all things are possible..
    After reading about your son does this mean I can't call you a Doddlehead any more?? Great post Connie..hugs and smiles Gloria

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  8. Connie, that is such a moving story. Big Mike and his family are certainly in my prayers. Your son sounds like a true blessing! Gads to have a successful career, then to get an RN (not an easy task) and to start working the night shift at a hospital---also not easy. I know because we have a daughter getting her RN and has also worked the night shifts as a patient care tech--rough. My daughter has a very soft heart, too, and will also be a blessing to the health care field. She also truly cares about the emotional and physical part of the patients and receives positive feedback from them and her supervisors. It's hard to be there in both ways, but I think to be successful--you must. God bless your son for being there for Big Mike and God bless you for your call of support.
    I would say you and LB did an outstanding job in raising K--funny hairdo and all! :) Dana

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  9. Good Morning Connie,
    Please pass the tissue sweet lady...What a precious son and daughter in-law you have, as well as your grandchildren too. This is such a touching post and I will be praying for Mike and his family. I can imagine it was so hard for you to write this post. It would be for me too. God hears our prayers and I know he will answer. I know God sees the hurt, and sees the caring hearts too and there may be some things we cannot understand, but there's one thing I believe with all my heart.... is that God understands. I hope to be hearing a praise report on young Mike soon and that a miracle is witnessed before our eyes....God Bless you and your family Connie! I sure loved the photo of you and hubby...y'all are a beautiful couple and I can imagine how proud you are of that sweet son you raised....
    xoxo,
    Queenie

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  10. Dear, dear, Connie, I absolutely love this story, thanks for telling us all about K and his family and Mike and his. I hope that you will meet him...in CA someday soon :)

    xoxo-Bella

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  11. What a deeply touching story and yes, I will pray too.

    Hugs,
    Dena

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  12. Your son sounds like a wonderful man! My hubby often prays with people in the hospital. When my best friend was suffering from a strange paralysis he sat down with her at the hospital and prayed. She says she'll never forget that. Prayer can be powerful. I hope that this man will benefit from your prayers. You have every right to be so proud of your son!

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  13. What a beautiful post Connie. You and your hubby have raised two wonderful, caring children. It is so neat that you got so involved also - a true testament to your compassion. Thank you so much for sharing this. I will keep Mike in my prayers.

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  14. Connie yes I will most definatly pray for Mike and his family.I posted this am not sure why its not showing.Your son is a sweetie!Hugs to all,Jen

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  15. That is a beautiful story and it doesn't surprise me in the least that you cared enough to call Mike up and ask us all for prayer for him. I will add him to my prayer list and we will bring him before the Lord. SOunds like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with a caring son like that:>)
    Hugs
    Kathy

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  16. Connie, I am truly touched by your story. I can imagine the tears falling from your eyes as your wrote the story. Your son is a wonderful tribute to you. Also, your son and daughter-in-law must be very compassionate to own personal care homes. Of course, Mike and his family are in my prayers. Love knows no barriers and we all pray to the same God.
    Hugs,
    Sweetie

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  17. What an awesome post. Prayer knows no distance and I'll be praying as well. Hope you are having a great Sunday, thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy hearing from you!!

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  18. Connie Dear... I feel blessed because you have given me the opportunity to pray and remember again how fragile life can be and we must cherish every moment with others, friends new and old and especially family. We never know.
    All my love and prayers for Mike and family!
    Nanette

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  19. Awwww Connie...Bless your & your hubbies hearts..for those are where your son & daughters got theres!! Bless them ALL...Prayers for Big Mike going out as we speak!!!! I know what a comfort it was to have prayer when my dear sweet hubby was in the hosptial just 2 weeks ago...hes home now & doing great...but was a stressful situation & a serious operation.
    Prayers work & you should be sooo proud of raising such a wonderful man!!!! Often hosptials are so big & so busy they dont have time to really "care" Sounds like your son does & bless him!!!!
    Lovely story sweets!!
    Hugs & Prayers...
    Deb:)

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  20. Connie,
    That was great how you put your words down to bare your testimony to the world. Me and my family will be praying for Big Mike.
    It is wonderful how your son K has such a loving and giving heart. Shows what kind of parents he has!
    I know miracles can happen I was suppose to dye 9 years ago and here I am today typing to one of my blog friends who also shares my faith and love for our Heavenly Father.
    Would it be appropriate to add his name to the Temple prayer roll? Let me know.
    Big Hugs across the mile from Arizona to Idaho, Bobbi Jo

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  21. Connie, just look at you! Of course, I knew you'd have a very caring son. I'm so thankful that you son became a nurse. It's such a lovely, unselfish story. Your grandchildren and DIL are beautiful. Prayers for Mike and for your son's continued ability to care for people.

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  22. Had to make me cry...didn't you?!
    Will definitely be praying...

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  23. Connie I will definitely pray for this man. What beautiful people you and your family are. My Dad had colon cancer at a very old age. His Dr.s thought he wouldn't pull thru but he did. Through the power of prayer we made a difference in my Fathers healing.
    God Bless,
    Caroline

    Mike will get so many extra prayers from our blogging sisters

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  24. Hi Connie, very touching story. It's amazing that people don't have to be long time friends, the same color, or even the same religion for the Lord to cross their paths in order to work His wonders. I will pray for Mike, his family, K, you; and all of us that have been pulled to this union by your story. The Lord works through us all, even though he doesn't have to.

    And I feel that he's drawn each one of us who commented here, to receive a blessing, and I pray whole hearted that the blessing is to witness Mikes recovery. Thanks Connie, you are loved. Deb

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  25. I think it is beautiful that we are created "in the image of God"-and every time we respond like you and K did- it's God working through us! That is so awesome!

    Blessings to you!
    mary

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  26. Oh Connie ~ what a wonderful story. Yes, I will be praying for Mike also!

    Hugz,
    Michele

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  27. Hi Connie, I love this touching story and will be praying for Mike. Your son was given a direction from God when he became a nurse. What a beautiful blessing.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Sorry I have not visited as often, I have a sick eye and can't be on the computer too long.
    Big hugs and have a great day.
    Celestina
    la rea rose

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  28. Okay Chickee-dee-do! Thanks for providing me witha Kleenex moment this morning.

    Why, oh why did you not share such a wonderful story during RS???? It's so much better than my stupid banana bread offering. I just might ask you next month when I have to teach if you feel up to it.

    Awesome children are a sign of an awesome mother and father!!! I can only hope mine can be so caring and thoughtful to others.

    ~Stacey

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  29. Prayers for Mike and for you too as you try to deal with this emotional pain. Hugs to you Miss C.

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  30. Aw, sweet sweet Connie. I'm crying now, too. I know the special love you carry in your heart for EVERYONE & feel so blessed that we are such special friends. You always bless me & our Mother more than you can imagine.

    I've already said special prayers for M & his family & for K, too. He has great love in his heart that spills over from his dear mom & dad. N isn't too shabby either!! I love her & hope her heart is mending with her new family additions.

    Love you,
    Steph
    Angelic Accents

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.