THE LATE AWAKENING
Bill Yoder

Years ago, there was a man who was a hard worker and was always there for his children. He provided for the needs of his family but was distant from the mother of their children. In today’s understanding, he was abusing his wife by neglecting her.

His needs focused on the bottle and spending a lot of his time with his men friends, playing cards and drinking until the sun came up.

Through it all she never complained. She kept to herself, taking immaculate care of the house and attending to her children’s needs. She never drove a car but loved going to church faithfully every Sunday. He always drove. But after he dropped out of going to church (actually he was asked to leave due to his drinking which he refused to give up) she decided to learn how to drive and get her license so her and the children could go to church. She managed to get her license by passing all the tests with flying colors.

A year or so later she became sick and had to be put in the hospital. Her condition was diagnosed as cancer and was given six months to live. She decided to go back home and spend her remaining days there. Her husband changed his life completely, staying at home with her and taking care of her needs. He realized now how much he truly loved her and had wasted all that valuable time. He wanted to try to make it up to her and I believe she appreciated that. But was it too late? We may never know in this life.

He could no longer stay in the house that he had built for his family after she passed away and sold the house and property and moved.

Are we neglecting God? Are our needs really just wants? Do we need to make it right with God? The clock is ticking and time is running out.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father ; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Mt. 25 : 34 NIV

“Then he will say to those on his left, depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Mt. 25 : 41 NIV

* The husband in this story was my father. The wife in this story was my mother. And this is a true story.