Brotherly Love

Today we found out that Dad has decided to have the surgery done to remove his bowel obstruction. Mom asked that we all gather together as a family and participate in a family prayer and be there for Dad to receive a Priesthood blessing. Dad will be going in for surgery early tomorrow morning so we all felt that we should be together tonight. It was really great to be together as a family in Dad's hospital room. There was a powerful feeling of love and support for Dad as he prepares himself for this very risky surgery. Mom had to stand in the back of the room because she found out today that she has Strep and is contagious until tomorrow when her antibiotics kick in--when it rains it pours!! We all gathered in a circle around Dad's bed and he just looked at us. He scanned the room back and forth and told us what a beautiful sight we were. I guess it would be pretty awesome to see all of your seven children and their spouses standing around your bed...what an incredible way to find joy and rejoicing in your posterity. I'm so grateful for my family and for being so close to each other that we can all be there through this difficult time.

Something pretty remarkable, even miraculous happened tonight as well. For months my sisters and I have been talking about how to find Uncle Richard and tell him about Dad's condition. Following my grandfather's death almost 20 years ago, my Dad and his brother and sister had a "falling out" and did not speak to each other again. About three years ago my Dad reconnected with my Aunt Elaine in a truly amazing act of forgiveness and love and she has been such a wonderful part of our family every since. Uncle Richard lives in Washington state and no one has been able to locate him. It's really quite sad to think that for 20 years my dad has not had anything to do with his big brother, he didn't even know where he lived or how to contact him. Tonight while we were waiting for family to arrive at the hospital my sister got on the phone and dialed information and began a search for Uncle Richard. She started with his ex-wife and then their son and finally got my uncle on the phone. She was out in the hall and came rushing in to Dad and said, "Uncle Richard is on the phone, do you want to talk to him?" Dad was in a lot of pain and not really talking to anyone, but he looked up and reached his hand out to take the phone. There was such excitement in his voice. We all sat silently and listened to him talk to his brother that he has not spoken to for so many years. It was such an incredible moment. Apparently, Uncle Richard had been looking for Dad too but didn't know where to find him either. They talked for just a few minutes, until Dad was too tired and weak to talk any further. I heard Dad say to his brother, "It's been so long, but I've never forgotten the love that is there". It was Dad's way of telling Richard that he loved him. Dad also told him how wonderful it was to hear his voice and how wonderful it would be to see him again. What a miracle that these two brothers finally had a chance to speak to each other again. It was such a tender mercy and I was so grateful to be there to witness it.

Dad was given a beautiful blessing and was promised that all will be well. I truly believe that all will indeed be well tomorrow. I know that the Lord loves my father and provided a way for him to reconnect with his brother so that he could know of Richard's love for him tonight. I hope that it will give my Dad comfort and strength. I know that we were placed here on this earth in families so that we could be happy and comfort one another during challenging and trying times.