THREAD: (If you follow me for politics or law, you might want to mute this thread.) We often pray and ask others to pray for us, but often forget to say thank you--both to God and to those who prayed for us. I've thanked God profusely for nearly 2 days & now thank those who /1
2/ prayed for my father & my family when he entered hospice last week. Our (@JamieCouncilman & younger smarter brother not on Twitter) father died on Sunday morning, as comfortably & peacefully as could be. But God answered our prayers in such a beautiful way. Here's the story.
@JamieCouncilman 3/ By mid-week it appeared my father would not live long and I arranged to take train down early on Friday to see him again & to give my brother a respite. Friday he had not stirred since the morning & was sleeping/unconscious when I arrived mid-afternoon. I stayed with him
@JamieCouncilman 4/ that night, along with a caregiver so I could get some sleep. At 4 am I took over and he remained peaceful and asleep. All Saturday was the same. He woke occasionally when they had to care for him & one time I said loudly while looking him in the eyes: "Daddy I love you."
@JamieCouncilman 5/ He opened his mouth and strained to talk, finally forming the words "I love you" which would be his last. Saturday night my brother stayed with him while I took mom to mass. He suggested mom stay in car as she was exhausted & he just take her home.
@JamieCouncilman 6/ I suggested instead we "give God a chance" and say a family rosary. We did. Dad remained unconscious, while we held his hands and prayed. They left. My brother called a few minutes later to say the nighttime help was unable to come, so I stayed bedside all night.
@JamieCouncilman 7/ At 2 a.m. his breathing became fast and shallow and it seemed more frantic. I feared he was suffering and prayed God take him, while wanting Him to spare him until mom & brother could be here. At 4 a.m., still faster and shallower. Same prayer. At 6 a.m. I prayed for God to
@JamieCouncilman 8/ wait because brother was going to 6:30 a.m mass and then after mom had her morning medicine was bringing her over. They arrived shortly after 8. I had a cab arranged to take me to the train station. I wanted to stay but my family needed me too, so I said goodbye
@JamieCouncilman 9/ "Daddy, I love you. I have to go home and take care of DH and DS. But I love you very much and they love you very much. I won't see you again until heaven, but I love you. I then suggested a last family rosary. We held hands--ours and his and began.
@JamieCouncilman 10/ The sign of the cross, the apostle's creed, and we began, "Hail Mary full of Grace, . . .now and at the hour of our death. Amen." And as our first Hail Mary ended, my father stopped breathing. We finished our rosary. We called the nurse & she confirmed, I kissed him & mom
@JamieCouncilman 11/ & brother, drove to brother's house where the cab was to pick me up. 2 minutes later the cab arrived. God in His goodness blessed us to be together with my father and literally praying when he died. So concrete was His answer to our prayers, that the pain of loss
@JamieCouncilman 12/12 is far surpassed by joy. We so often pray not knowing how God answered us or why, especially when the answer is "no." But His concrete "yes" reminded me that His answers are always out of love for what is best for us. Thank you God & thank you for your prayers. END
