My husband, Rick, woke me at 5:00 a.m. “I need to go to Emergency.”
Life doesn’t prepare us for these moments. Jesus does. He said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20).
I drove calmly to Cambridge Memorial and returned home to look up to heaven. Here’s my email from Jan. 5:
“This morning, twenty-five years ago, we awoke in Ontario for the first time. We’d just flown in from California with fresh picked oranges off the trees. I looked out the window of the home we were staying at into the Ice Storm of 1998. I said to Rick, “I don’t think I can do this, babe.” It looked like Pluto.
Today, I dropped off my soldier husband at emergency. I felt the same thing, “I don’t think I can do this.” But the Lord will be with us wherever we go.
The past month for Rick has taken an incredible toll on him. He’s lost sooo much sleep. He carries the weight of the whole school on his shoulders. But that dear soldier is collapsing. I can attest to his incredibly godly character moment by moment.
In the Ice Storm of 98 everyone worked together. Neighbours looked out for neighbours. Hotels had free guests. It was this incredible Canadian spirit that drew us to come to Canada. It’s that same spirit we need now at Heritage. Let’s do this together. And let’s pray.”
I did return to the hospital, and two doctors debated whether to send home or admit. The final decision: I, with a fever myself, would be the nurse.
Having no family here, I knelt and prayed with tears: “God please help me. I can’t do this alone.” “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2 Tim 4:17).
Days later, looking up at ceilings in two different rooms, we listened in the dark to Kristian Sandfill’s album: “Make it Out Alive.” One song, “We Need People” could be your song too! (You can listen to it below)
Ministry leadership is lonely! It is hard at times (see 2 Timothy). Looking to other ministry friends is essential (see Rom 16, Col 4 and 2 Tim 4). We all need love.
While we were looking up at the ceiling, God pressed us closer to Himself. We look back and praise God for 10 years at Heritage and 40 years of marriage! The lessons we’ve learned will be shared at the Marriage Retreat for Pastoral Couples (for more info see https://www.muskokabible.com/retreats/marriage-in-ministry/).
How about you? Are you trying to go it alone? Figure it out by yourself? Heritage is here for you. Share your life with someone before you’re looking up from your own bed.
Rick is now back in the pulpit. This week, he is speaking on the crown given to all those who “love his appearing” (2 Tim 4:8). Keep looking Up!
Rick and Linda Reed 