O. T. Professor consoals student with Bible verses.
Simple Scripture References Saved
Lives
The following letter was received by an O. T.
faculty member and was shared with us by a colleague with permission
of the author and recipient. Information identifying the individuals
was altered as Paul said “so that no man can boast”.
May 2003
Dear Professor Jones,
This is a long over due “thank you” to you for the compassion you
showed to me about twelve years ago. In the spring semester of 1991 I
was a junior O. T. student. February 13, 1991 my dad suffered from a
ruptured cerebral aneurysm. The following day he underwent surgery to
repair the ruptured vessel and clamp another that was on the verge of
rupture. Needless to say I was overwhelmed by shock and uncertainty.
My world changed in an instant.
My dad was only 50 years old at the time. My mom began to look to
me a 21-year-old college student, for support. My younger sister and I
were not very close at the time. My mom and dad live in Centerville
and my dad was in the hospital. He was there for three weeks and then
discharged home to my mom’s care with no assistance or rehabilitation
plans. The initial time at home was very tough for my parents. My dad
exhibited minimal physical limitations, but cognitively, oh my!!!
Disorientation, poor memory and so on. At the time, I really did not
know how to help him. Home or outpatient speech therapy had been
recommended by the SLP at the hospital but the physician did not order
either. My dad never received an O. T. evaluation. During his recovery
I attempted two or three times to obtain a physician’s order for
rehabilitation evaluation but never received an order. I was feeling
helpless, frustrated, angry and overwhelmed daily.
Well through all of this, I remained in the O. T. program making
trips to the hospital and home as often as I could. The O. T. faculty
was very sympathetic and frequently expressed concern for me and my
family. However, Dr. Jones, I will never forget your specific act of
kindness. You see, at the time I was not a Christian. One day during
gross anatomy you gave me a list of Scripture references to give me
hope and comfort. At the time I was touched but was not even remotely
close to God and honestly did not even know how to spell some of the
references. Oh, I believed in God and even prayed for my dad but I
know now that it was not my prayers that were heard.
Well, He hears me now. On March 30, 1995 I accepted Jesus Christ as
my Lord and Savior. I know that you were one of those sowers who
planted a seed in my heart and mind several years ago. I still have
that index card that I jotted those Scripture references on more than
twelve years ago. I thank you for sharing your faith with me and
showing Christian love and compassion to someone you did not know. You
are special to me and to the Lord.
Here’s an update on my life since those college days. My husband,
David, and I have been married for nine years. He and I were baptized
together on Easter Sunday, April 15, 1995. We have two daughters and
are expecting our third child in July. We are living near mom and are
enjoying serving the Lord in our home raising our children and in our
church. I am a stay-at-home mom. My dad is doing relatively well. He
never returned to work and was able to retire early. Physically he’s
fine but he continues to exhibit cognitive impairments. And his
personality is just not the same. Back in ’91 one of my friends said
to me that I should be thankful that he is alive. Well at the time,
and even now at times I feel as if he died that day in February 1991.
He’s just not the same. However, I do thank God for allowing him to
live because in 1998 my dad accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. I
thank God for his grace and mercy and for giving my dad eternal life.
I know that this has been pretty lengthy and I am sorry if I have
rambled on, but I have had intentions of writing to you for some time.
The Lord just kept prodding me to write and then I met a colleague of
yours at a conference recently and she shared your address with me. I
hope you and your family are doing well, and again I thank you so
much,Professor Jones!
With appreciation and love in Christ,
Susan Smith O. T. class of 93
”So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not
return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without
succeeding [in the matter] for which I sent it.” Isaiah, 55: 11, NASB |
