Our good friend Bruce has been praying for his family for years. As you know his family is Jewish, and he grew up in a home where they could not even speak the name of Jesus! For years our community has joined Bruce in praying for his family. And most specifically, we have been praying recently for his mom, who was recently put in Hospice care.
Bruce was led to start reading to her from the Gospel of John. While at any time before she would not listen to, literally, anything regarding Jesus, she was open to his reading. So, over the last number of weeks, when he would visit his mom in the nursing home, he would wait for her to be alert, and he would read to her. Unlike any other time in her life, she was willing to listen.
Maybe it was having her son there, reading, that first opened her heart to listen. Certainly, the Spirit was gently moving through Bruce and alongside her in her sleep and in her waking moments. Throughout the days, Bruce was able to make it through story after story of Jesus’ love, miracles, grace, compassion, justice, and life.
Yesterday, after Bruce had read a couple of chapters and was about to stop, his mom asked him to keep going. He read another and another. And then, with the Spirit moving through him, he shared with his mom the Gospel. She simply said, ‘That is what I believe.’
The next day, despite having Hospice place his mom on a morphine drip, and informing Bruce that she likely only had a few days left here, Bruce spoke with her again. He said, ‘Mom, do you remember what we talked about yesterday?’ And she said, “Yes, I believe.”
The Lord rejoices! The heavens rejoice! Our community rejoices! Bruce’s mom is rejoicing! And maybe most deeply, Bruce is rejoicing!
After years of significant difficulty, having paid such a high price, from his family, for his own faith, Bruce has not given up hope, nor has he stopped praying. Many may have lost hope or let roots of bitterness create unsurpassable chasms, but the love of Jesus in Bruce’s life amplified his love for his family despite the odds. Bruce is a picture of faith that refuses to give up, despite the circumstances and regardless of the odds. His love, his commitment, and his years of persistent faith, have led to the miraculous new life in one of the the most important relationships in his life.
We love you Bruce, and we praise God that your mom is being ushered into the Kingdom of God with the love, prayers, and faith that led to her new life!