Sunday we attended the Homecoming church service at SFB. Homecoming service is a big deal because the choir comes out of hibernation, puts on their blue and white choir robes and music abounds. This after a long, dry summer with a soloist here and there and the organist but none of the great anthems we've come to expect over the years. The service was great and Dad thoroughly enjoyed the music and the fanfare.
But, he still can't hear worth a damn despite his hearing aids. That's a topic for a separate discussion entirely. He hears the music because the decibel level is up there. As for the greeting, the sermon, the readings, and the prayers; he's basically stone deaf to it all that's spoken in church.
During one of the hymns, there's an opportunity to come forward with specific prayer requests. In all my years attending church I've only done this once before; one time when Dad was sick and hospitalized back in 2006. I asked for prayers for his healing and the request was read aloud along with multiple other prayer requests.
This past Sunday, I definitely had something worthy of a prayer or two and so I left my seat with Dad telling him I'd be "right back". I didn't think he even missed me and I certainly didn't think he heard my prayer request. He never mentioned a thing about it.
Until....the next day, Laura and I stopped by to visit him and we got to talking about how lovely the church service had been.
Dad: "Yes, and you got up during the hymn and walked up to one of the ministers."
Me: "Yeah, I had a prayer request. The minister mentioned all the requests during the prayers of the people part of the service. You couldn't hear what she was saying, could you?"
Dad: "No. I couldn't hear anything. I don't know what you were praying for and.....I won't ask".
We laughed and moved right on to another topic of conversation. Dad is very perceptive, even more so it seems in his 90's and at the most unexpected times. He knew there was something on my mind, something that made me want to walk up and talk to a minister with a prayer request but he's never been one to pry. Always willing to listen but he never pushes.
I do intend to share my prayer request with him. He needs to know. And, perhaps he can offer his sage advice which might possibly be...."It'll all turn out OK in the end".
Thanks in advance, Dad.
That reminds me of my dad. He can't hear, but seems to always know when something is amiss, when someone has a problem. He can tell when something is bothering me. If he mentions he's concerned about someone, I'll ask him, "what's the problem?" He'll always say, "they didn't say and I didn't ask". The same with me, he never pushes, but if I want to discuss, he'll listen. He never offers advice unless asked for his opinion.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what this refers to, but I hope for you it will all turn out in the end. The saying is, if it does not turn out in the end, it's not the end.
ReplyDeleteFacing some hard times ahead myself and need to believe this too.
(Tina)
Makes me miss Dad and want a visit with him. He's a joy to be with if he can hear and so, be engaged.
ReplyDeleteMakes me long for a visit with Dad. He is so on sometimes. A joy because he's 'with you' when he's being insightful or candid.
ReplyDelete