I Heard Him Come

Today has been one of those “different” days. When we went to the doctor yesterday I told him about the problems Jeff has sleeping. Typically he thrashes for at least 2 hours before falling into a restless sleep. As you can imagine, it makes it a little tough for me to get any sleep as well. So the Dr gave us something to try to help him sleep. It worked. In fact, the only time Jeff woke up today was to eat a little bit, go to the bathroom and then fall back to sleep. I suppose I ought to be worried, but I know how sleeping medicine affects him, so I decided just to take advantage of the quiet time and get some things done.

We had a sweet experience on Sunday that I wanted to share on this blog. We were eating breakfast and listening to KZION on the internet. It had beautiful Sabbath day music which is very calming. Suddenly Jeff stopped eating and cocked his head to hear the music. The song that was playing was “I Heard Him Come” It is a familiar song to us, one we have heard countless times, but this time it took on all new meaning for my sweet husband.

Lyrics to I Heard Him Come

I heard him comeI saw his very face
I wondered whoWould come into this place
Where dead men walk
And where the dying talkOf life before
The curse upon them came.

He looked on me;
He must have felt my gaze
He came toward me, Through the crowded maze,
And I a leper in shame, hid my head
Till someone said, Jesus, is his name

And he said, Nations fall behind him
The rivers crawl to find him.
Mountains move Just to let him through.
Come and never leave him
Just let your heart believe him.
And never let his light go
Never let your love grow dim.

He fed a thousand
With one loaf of bread
I saw him raise A child from the dead
He healed the sick
The blind man saw his eyes
The lame man stood
And joyous were his cries

I saw his pain
As they nailed him to a cross
I Wish that we Could understand the cause
He looked on me As he had once before
Saying, Teach my word To all forever more

And I'll say:Nations fall behind him
The rivers crawl to find him
Mountains move Just to let him through
Come and never leave him
Just believe
And never let his light go
Never let your light grow dim

Jeff listened intently to the words and then began to just sob.
Understanding what he was experiencing, I took him over to the couch and cradled him like a baby and just let his tears flow. It broke my heart to feel the depth of his longing as the words of the song took on totally new meaning.

I could feel his agony of being a prisoner in his own in body and remembering what it was like before the “curse upon him came” I could also sense his longing to feel the Saviors hands on his head and bless him to receive his sight again. He understood the joyous cries of the lame man who could walk again. But mostly I think he remembered the joy he felt in sharing the Savior’s message of love and wished he was still able to teach His words.

Other songs came on…”Let Him Heal Your Heart”, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked”, “I Wonder When He Comes Again”. With each song of the Savior, Jeff’s heart got calmer and calmer. I could literally feel him accepting the Lord’s invitation to make him whole again including the timing. I held him for at least 2 hours. It didn’t matter that my legs were cramping and that I really needed to go to the bathroom. I felt like I was somehow a witness to something sacred that was happening and I could not bring myself to end it prematurely.

Later on when we visited about the experience, Jeff told me he did not know what made him cry, only that Jesus helped him feel better. I asked him if he remembered a night a long time ago when I cried out in my own pain and sorrow begging the Savior to ease my burdens and put his loving arms around me for just a little bit. Back then, Jeff in his wisdom listened to my desire and told me that the time would come when I would feel the literal arms of the Savior around me, but for the time being he would offer his own arms in representation of the Savior’s arms. He told me he would hold me as long as I needed to be held. I took him up on the offer and my grieving heart was calmed.

Somehow Jeff did remember that night so long ago and told me it was now my turn. He then thanked me for putting my arms around him and letting him feel the Savior’s love for him through my love.

Sometimes circumstances are incredibly challenging, but loving is easy. I encourage anyone who reads this to choose love. Find someone who needs to feel the Savior’s arms around them and embrace them without judgment, criticism, or pity. If you need to, look into the mirror and invite the pure love of Christ to wash through you and fill your own heart with peace. It is one of the most powerful healing gifts available to all.

It might not change the reality of very challenging circumstances, but it will give you the strength to press forward one more day.
Thanks for reading my ramblings.
Chris