Devoted Father

She was about 15, and was brought into the ER by her father.  He was concerned because she was confused, having diarrhea and vomiting.  She was admitted in our hospital for over a month before she was able to go home.  Throughout her hospitalization, her dad continued to be at her bedside - helping to change her, helping her to the bathroom, washing her, looking after her and just loving her. 

All of our hospital patients have someone looking after them while they are in the hospital.  Usually it is a women, either their wife, mother or sister.  Dad's don't usually get involved, especially in this culture, but thankfully this dad didn't read that book.  He was faithful and devoted to his daughter wanting to see that she got better.   In a culture, where people are, at times, beaten and tortured for their disobedience, for their rebellion, here was a dad who forgave and continued to love.  A week after she was discharged they showed up in my room for a followup visit, and there was dad again, at her side, helping her. 

I couldn't help but admire this dad and his devotion for his daughter.  They shared a little of their story and how she had somewhat run away, abandoned the church and the things her parents taught her.  But when she got sick, there was her dad, ready and waiting for her, having never stopped loving her and looking after her.  He reminded me of the father in the prodigal son story, who was there looking out to see when his son was going to return home, ready to welcome him back again.  This story is a picture of Jesus, ready and waiting for any and all of us to return to Him, no matter what we have done or haven't done, said or haven't said.  He loves us, He died for us, and He is waiting for us to return home.