Precision Placement
Day 1| No more needles
A Scripture-centered reading from the Precision Prayer devotional collection.
My oldest brother was born with a heart defect. One of his valves was not fully formed, and he underwent open heart surgery as a young child. I often say Robert was dealt with a difficult hand when it came to his health.
As he grew older, his condition affected both his stamina and his ability to learn. He could not walk very far without needing to rest, and it became more difficult as the years passed.
Robert’s lips and skin often had a purplish color due to his condition.
One of the things I recall from my mom was Robert would tell her, “no more needles mom”. Even now, I tear up thinking about both of them. God gave Robert the perfect mom. My mom.
Robert died at twenty-six.
- Never had a first kiss.
- Never had a girlfriend.
- Never knew what it was like to walk without being out of breath.
I still remember getting the call at my mom’s house. My younger brother answered the phone. Mom was not home. It was just the two of us and a friend of mine who had come over to play chess.
Jon did not fully understand what the nurse was saying, so I took the phone. The nurse explained they had been unable to resuscitate Robert.
She said he was asking for Mom. She had just left. Oddly enough, Wende and I had just been there too.
You know those moments when you say, “I’ll see you later,” and later never comes?
During the call, the nurse told us Robert said he could see angels in the room.
That moment stayed with me. It still makes me smile.
Robert struggled as a teenager and young adult. He loved his rock music, did not always fit in, and honestly, he was not always easy to get along with. I know what it feels like to have a steak knife thrown at me.
But underneath all of that, Robert had a tender heart for the Lord.
That call gave me peace. I believe Robert is in heaven.
I have often said I’m not sure I would have handled life as well as Robert if I had been dealt his hand of cards.
Do you feel cheated?
Things are not going the way you had planned?
Life can feel unfair.
Some people carry mountains that others never see.
But Robert taught me something powerful.
Faithfulness is not measured by how easy life is.
Sometimes the greatest testimonies come from people who simply keep trusting God through difficult circumstances.
We wanted more time.
But we thank God for the twenty-six years we were given.
Precision Practice
Robert’s life ended surrounded by angels.
His life seemingly was cut short, but what a mom we had.
You are surrounded by witnesses as well.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
You were created with value and purpose.
Precision Passages
Psalms 139:13-17 NKJV
(13) For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
(14) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
(15) My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
(16) Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
(17) How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
Luke 16:10 NKJV
(10) He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
Romans 8:18 NKJV
(18) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.