CHAPTER XIV
For hours, Jennie sat in the waiting room for the intensive care patients. The only report she received was, "She's holding her own."
"When may I see her?" she asked the nurse on duty.
"You can see her for ten minutes in another hour," she was told.
How she longed for the comfort of Dave's presence but he still had not returned. She felt crushed under the load she was carrying. "Oh, God," she prayed silently, "give Dave the victory he seeks. Help him to say that final 'yes' to God. Don't let him be defeated, Lord. Help him to surrender all." She glanced at the clock on the wall. Dave had been gone four hours. She rose from her chair and walked over to the window. Taking her worn Testament from her purse, she opened it to the book of Romans and her eyes fell on these words, "sanctified by the Holy Ghost." She blinked her eyes. Could this be a message from God? She read it over slowly again, "sanctified by the Holy Ghost." The burden for Dave gently lifted off her heart and the witness flooded her soul. She had the assurance that God had met Dave's need. The tears fell unashamedly down her cheeks and she wanted to shout aloud for joy. Her whole body trembled with emotion.
"Here, Miss, sit down and let me get you a glass of water." A kindly lady had taken the situation in hand.
"Thank you, Ma'am," Jennie told her, "but I'm all right. I was just lost in adoration to God for His goodness to us. Isn't He wonderful?"
The lady gave her a puzzled stare and left her to herself. Jennie went into the restroom, washed her face and then walked out into the hall to wait for Dave, whom she expected to arrive very soon. Ten minutes she waited, twenty, thirty, but still Dave had not come.
"See," the devil derided her. "You were mistaken. If he had the victory, he would not have been able to get here fast enough to tell you."
"Get thee behind me, Satan," she whispered. "I believe God that it is as He has witnessed to me."
Jennie glanced at the clock again. In fifteen minutes, she was to see Joan. What was keeping Dave? She started walking toward the elevator as if guided by an unseen hand. It opened and Dave stepped out. The glow on his face revealed to Jennie what she already knew. She fell into his arms unmindful of their surroundings.
"Praise God, Jennie," was all that Dave could say.
"Amen!" she answered. "I'm so happy for you, Dave. Praise the Lord!"
"What about Joan?"
"We're to see her in about ten minutes. What took you so long, Dave? God gave me the witness nearly an hour ago."
"Then you already knew before I came?"
"Yes, Dave."
"Well, Jennie, I was so broken before God and in such a state of ecstasy that I just lingered a while to give God praise. Does that explain it?"
"Yes, Dave, that explains it," she smiled at him sweetly.
They walked back into the waiting room together.
"You may see your little girl now," a nurse told them.
Dave took Jennie's hand and they started toward the door together.
"One at a time, five minutes each," she instructed.
"You go first, Jennie."
The little figure did not move as Jennie looked down upon her. Could there be life in one who looked so much like a corpse? Her black curls had been shaven off and her head was swathed in bandages with only her pale little face exposed. A needle was stuck in her arm with an intravenous bottle hanging over her bed.
Jennie found it very difficult to remain calm as she had been instructed, but an unseen presence reached underneath her with His everlasting arms and held her steady. She prayed silently as she stood by Joan's bed, then kissed her pale little cheek and returned to Dave.
"Prepare yourself," she whispered to him as he started to go in to see her. He smiled faintly and squeezed her hand. "May God's will be done," she whispered close to his ear, that he might know she was still submissive. Dave nodded in agreement, not trusting himself to speak. He then entered her room .
"Give us more grace, Lord," Jennie prayed silently as she waited just outside the door. "Touch Dave. Don't let him weaken; keep him submissive to Thy will." Her heart followed Dave into Joan's room.
"Let's go, Jennie." Dave touched her elbow. "Let's go get some fresh air before I faint."
They walked down the long corridor hand in hand. Neither spoke for the feelings they shared were beyond words. They walked out the front door of the hospital, across the street and sat down on a bench. For a while they were both silent. Then Jennie spoke, "It's hard, Dave, but God is giving us strength to bear it. He promised to be with us in time of trouble, to never leave us or forsake us."
"Yes, Jennie, I know."
A little gray squirrel scampered down the tree trunk under which they sat, and jumped upon the back of the bench flicking his tail as if begging for a nut. Dave reached out his hand as if to stroke it, but it jumped off the bench and ran back up the tree. He shaded his eyes to catch a glimpse of the frisky little creature, but the squirrel had disappeared.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful if heartaches could disappear like that?" he commented.
"The Bible tells us that 'Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble,' Dave. Everyone has heartaches and trouble. It's how we take our troubles that counts. If God allows these heartbreaking trials to come our way, then He will give us grace to bear them."
"But, Jennie, the thing that crushes me is that I'm to blame. The Lord allowed this to break down my stubborn will, but though I'm to blame, look how you and Joan are suffering. "
Jennie reached over and put her hand in his, smiling through her tears. "Dave, dear, God's works are for eternity," she replied softly. "And though He has allowed this to bring you unto Himself, and though Joan and I are suffering as well as you, all three of us will reap eternal rewards. I have prayed many times that the Lord would sanctify you at any cost and He has marvelously done it. This is the cost and I have no regrets for God's ways are high above our ways. What would our life have been even though we lived many long, healthy years if you had not minded God? Think of all the heartaches we have suffered in the past when you were running from God. Think of the misery you were in and the grief I suffered. Now, we are both in a place, spiritually, where God can really begin to mold our lives to help others. To blame yourself, Dave, for Joan's condition will not help matters at all. Let's just say that God, in His eternal wisdom, has allowed it for our good and His glory and accept it. That way, it becomes easier. Remember how you put Joan in God's hands when you were seeking to be sanctified? Well, Dave, let's leave her there. She belongs to Him and if He takes her on to heaven it will make heaven brighter for us and give us more to strive for to enter in."
"Jennie, your words are like soothing ointment to a wound. But," he added with a rueful smile, "they haven't always been so. When I was astray, you talked to me as straight as you could. I guess that is what it has taken to bring me to my senses." Squeezing her hand, he whispered,"I love you, Mrs. Maddox, and think you're the best wife in the whole world."
A few weeks later, as they prepared to leave the hospital, Dr. Spinks told them, "Well folks, I have never seen anything like it. Your daughter has recovered much faster than I expected. I suppose that is because of her tender age."
"Dr. Spinks, you are a wonderful doctor and my wife and I appreciate you and your fine staff of doctors and nurses in this hospital that have given our baby such good care. But we want to give God the praise and honor that's due Him also, for sparing her life. Without His mercy and healing touch, I fear she would not have pulled through." Dave smiled faintly as he spoke.
The blood rushed to Dr. Spinks' face as he glared at Dave. "Young man," he said coldly, "there's not a better hospital around and our doctors .... "
"You're right, Doc," Dave interrupted. "We want you to have all the credit due you, but tell me honestly, do you think you could have saved her life had it not been for God's help?"
Dr. Spinks dropped his eyes and then his head. He shifted from one foot to t
he other while he jingled the coins in his pocket. Meeting Dave's eye once again, he started to speak, but instead he swallowed hard and turned from them and walked over to the window, pulled the drapes and looked out. Rolling the drapery cord between his thumb and finger, he at last spoke, "Mr. Maddox, you asked for an honest opinion. I am not a religious man and of course, I like to think that I have done well with my patients. I like for them to think that I am a good doctor. My profession means much to me; in fact, it is my life. I put forth my best efforts for suffering and dying humanity. When I see an impossible case restored to life and health, it gives me a sense of satisfaction and I say to myself, 'Spinks, all your years of hard studying and practice have paid off. You are a help in this life.' It gives me strength and courage to continue on. But to get back to your question," he turned and faced them,"to be perfectly honest, I had no hope at all for your baby's recovery when she was admitted into this hospital. I suppose I will have to admit that we had help from a higher power. To see her today, so much improved and with no brain damage whatsoever, is indeed a wonderful miracle." He extended his hand to shake hands with them. "Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Maddox. It has been a real pleasure getting acquainted with you folk, but I'm sorry it had to be under these circumstances." Glancing down at the floor, he added humbly, "Say a prayer for me sometimes."
At this moment, someone turned on a radio and the beautiful Christmas carol, "Silent Night, Holy Night" rang out in the stillness of the hospital corridor.
Jennie grew tense as she watched Dave's reaction. She had seen him stomp angrily out of the house many times because of a Christmas carol being played or sung. Dave dropped his head as she almost held her breath in suspense. He then looked her straight in the eye, smiled and winked.
Dr. Spinks was saying, "And to think you will be home with Joan to spend Christmas together. This should be the best Christmas you have ever had."
Jennie looked timidly at Dave awaiting his answer.
"Yes, Doc," he said enthusiastically, "this will be the best Christmas we have ever spent together. I'm so glad that Jesus was born many years ago on Christmas morn and died on the cross to pay the price for my redemption as well as for yours, Doc."
Dr. Spinks turned and walked away, "Merry Christmas," he called over his shoulder.
"Merry Christmas to you, Doc, and thanks a million for everything you have done."
Driving home later with little Joan, Dave spoke, "Jennie, we are beginning our life anew. When I heard those Christmas carols back there in the hospital, I thought of how angry I always got. But everything's so different now. I reasoned to myself as I listened to the beautiful carols. 'Dave Maddox, you have been very childish because of a tragedy happening during the Christmas season. Don't you know it could have happened at any other time of the year? What is the meaning of Christmas anyway? Why, if Christ had not been born and had not died for you, Dave Maddox, where would you be now?' " Glancing at Jennie," he added, "My heart is really changed, Jennie. It's amazing."
"Wonderful, Dave," Jennie was weeping for joy.
"One other thing I want to say while it is on my mind. Remember how awful I acted after we were married when you approached me about going back to work for God?"
"Yes, Dave." It was engraved in her memory.
"Well, Jennie, I've already asked your forgiveness but I want you to know you are free to work for God in any way He leads. I will do all I can to help."
"Thank you, Dave. You can't imagine what this means to me. She brushed the tears from her eyes.
Turning on the radio, they listened enraptured to the beautiful carol, "Oh Come All Ye Faithful."
"Jennie, my dear," Dave put his arm about her shoulder and she snuggled. closer and lay her head against his shoulder, "if you had not been faithful, I would not be joyful and triumphant this wonderful Christmas season. Thanks for every prayer you have prayed for me, every meal you have fasted and every warning you have given me. God has brought us through many sore trials and tests, and by His help and grace, I will never fail Him or you again. I love you very much, Mrs. Maddox, and intend to spend the rest of my life making up to you for my past failures."
Jennie sighed happily. "This is the real beginning of our life--our honeymoon, the one we have never taken," she thought. Looking up to God in her heart, she breathed a prayer of thanksgiving. "Thank you, Father, for holding me up with Thine everlasting arms of mercy and keeping me sweet in my soul. With the right spirit, keeping me from sinking, as time and time again, Thou hast allowed us to pass through deep and troubled waters."
"Mommy, Daddy, Joan's hungry. Let's stop and eat." Their little girl had awakened.
Jennie and Dave looked at each other and laughed as Jennie moved over to make room for Joan between them.
"Joan loves Mommy, loves Daddy, loves Joan." Folding her little hands, she added reverently, "Joan loves Jesus. Jesus made Joan well. Thank you Jesus for making Joan well. Thank you Jesus for everything." Looking at Dave and then at Jennie, she said, "Mommy and Daddy pray."
"Thank you Jesus for everything," they repeated in unison as they headed toward the nearest cafe to feed their hungry little girl.