Thanksgiving Day. 2005. It was the last Thanksgiving where all of the Bill Rudberg clan celebrated that holiday with Bill. But we really weren’t together, for Bill was in the hospital….It was November 21, 2005….
On November 21, our grandson Caleb’s fifth birthday, Bill was admitted to the hospital. The hours crawled by. We hardly knew what day it was, when two familiar faces appeared at the door to the hospital room. “Thought you needed a real holiday meal,” grinned Erika, as she and Bill’s mom brought in a steaming basket filled with turkey and all the fixings from their Thanksgiving dinner.
On Saturday morning the female hospital chaplain prayed with us and read Scripture. I wept as she read and prayed. “Our Father, please help Bill and Shirley as they cope with this illness. Be their strength and song during this difficult time.”…I sat by his bedside while my husband slept. I felt the darkness of the room closing in around me, as despair clenched my heart. Then, note by note, I caught the sounds of singing.
Precious Lord, take my hand.
Lead me on, through the night.
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Thro’ the storm, thro’ the night,
Lead me on to the light–
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
The rich alto voice continued to lift old hymns. I stood, amazed, and followed the songs down the hall. A few doors down, I glanced into a darkened room and saw a black woman, wearing a black and white dress, sitting in a bedside chair.
She would never know the comfort she gave a neighbor that evening. I tiptoed back to Bill’s room, knowing I was not alone……
(Excerpt from Second Chances, At Life and Love, With Hope, c 2012, Shirley Rudberg Graybill)
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