LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 63

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CONVENTION SERMONS

heart attack, a slight one . You see, I live alone and she is the
only family I have . Will you call her right away—as soon as
you can?” She agreed, and just before she left the room, he
added, “Nurse, could you get me a pencil and paper?” She dug
a scrap of yellow paper and a pen from her pocket and set it
on the bedside table .
The nurse called his daughter and said, “Janie, this is Sue
Kidd, a registered nurse at the hospital . I’m calling about
your father . He was admitted tonight with a slight heart
attack and—” “No!” she screamed into the phone, startling
Sue . “He’s not dying, is he?” “His condition is stable at the
moment,” Sue said, trying hard to sound convincing . Silence
followed . Then Janie said, “You must not let him die!” Her
voice was utterly compelling . Sue replied, “He is getting the
very best care .” “But you don’t understand,” Janie pleaded .
“My daddy and I haven’t spoken in almost a year . We had a
terrible argument on my 21st birthday, over my boyfriend . I
ran out of the house . I—I haven’t been back . All these months
I’ve wanted to go to him for forgiveness . The last thing I said
to him was, ‘I hate you .’”
As Janie struggled to control her tears, Sue breathed a
prayer . “Please, God, let this daughter find forgiveness .” Janie
said, “I’m coming . Now! I’ll be there in thirty minutes .”
Sue went back to Mr . Williams’s room . He was in bed,
noticeably still . She reached for his pulse . There was none .
She called into the intercom by the bed: “Code 99! Room 712 .
Code 99!” Mr . Williams was in cardiac arrest . With lightning
speed Sue leveled the bed and bent over his mouth, breathing
air into his lungs, positioning her hands over his chest . She
compressed and breathed, compressed and breathed, compressed and breathed . “O God,” she prayed . “His daughter is
coming . Don’t let it end this way .”
The door burst open . Doctors and nurses poured into the
room pushing emergency equipment . Procedures and medications proved fruitless . The heart monitor showed nothing .
Sue’s heart pounded . “God, don’t let it end like this . Not in
bitterness and hatred . His daughter is coming . Let her find
peace .” “Stand back,” cried a doctor . Sue handed him the

63

paddles for the electrical shock to the heart . He placed them
on Mr . Williams’s chest . Over and over they tried . But nothing happened . No response . Mr . Williams was dead . A nurse
unplugged the oxygen . One by one they left, grim and silent .
Sue stood by his bed, stunned . How could she face his
daughter? When Sue left the room, she saw Janie against the
wall by a water fountain . A doctor who had been inside the
room only moments before stood at Janie’s side, talking to her,
gripping her elbow . Then he moved on, leaving her slumped
against the wall . Pathetic hurt and wounded eyes reflected
from her face . She knew . The doctor had told her that her
father was gone .
Sue said, “Janie, I’m so sorry .” Janie replied, “I never hated
him . I loved him . I want to see him .” They walked slowly
down the corridor to 712 . Janie pushed open the door, leaned
over the bed and buried her face in the sheets . Sue backed
against the bedside table, where her hand fell upon a scrap of
yellow paper . She picked it up . It read: “My dearest Janie, I
forgive you . I pray you will also forgive me . I know that you
love me . I love you too . Daddy”
The note was shaking in Sue’s hands as she gave it to Janie .
She read it once, then twice . Her tormented face grew radiant . Peace began to glisten in her eyes . She hugged the scrap
of paper to her breast . “Thank You, God,” she whispered .
Forgiven! We all need to be forgiven . We are forgiven by
God’s grace, through faith in Christ our Lord . And we offer
forgiveness to those with whom our relationships are bent,
bruised, or broken .
As we begin this 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, we do so in awe and admiration of
our forgiving God, thanking Him for His forgiveness through
Christ, seeking forgiveness from those against whom we
have sinned, and forgiving those who have sinned against us .
Such is our duty and such is our privilege . For we are ONE
People—Forgiven!
May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep
your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Amen!
Gerald B . Kieschnick, President

2010 Convention Proceedings