After Clay had the aneurysm and collapsed at his apartment the clock started ticking.  His condition at first seemed to be worsening by the hour.  That first evening he stayed with us, hanging on.

Mom Arrives At The Hospital

“Liza?” My mother asked for me walking in the door of the hospital room.
“Yeah mom I’m here.” I replied.

She walked over to the bed and looked down at Clay.  She touched his hand and then looked at the kids asking them if they needed anything.  After this it was my turn.

“Liza I can take the girls with me.  It’s not good for them to be here for too long.” She said.
“No! We are staying with daddy.” Both were in protest.
“They have been praying for him near constantly and refuse to leave his side.” I said.

Mom walked over closer to me and bent over to whisper “I understand but this can become unhealthy behavior.”

I was exhausted.  In the mix of the ongoing divorce and fighting, all of this happened.  Adding to the fire was me now dealing with my family.  I wasn’t going to take the girls away from their dad in this moment.  They had been through enough and knew what was going on.

The children were still at that age where parents are all knowing and perfect. They had been affected by things in the past but their love knew no limits.

“It’s okay mom.  We are staying here for a while longer.  Its important.” I said.
“How is he doing anyway?” She asked.

“The doctor said what’s happening is unusual.  He is in a coma, but his body and mind are reacting in ways they shouldn’t be.  He said it’s like on the inside Clay is fully awake and living life.  On the outside we see the coma.” I tried to explain.

“After the way he treated you and the girls, I just hate seeing you and them like this.  I feel bad for Clay, I genuinely do, but you can’t let this drag you down further.” Mom said.

“What am I supposed to do then?  Pretend none of this is happening?  I’m going to be here for him.  The girls too as long as they want to be here.” I replied.

Mom stayed for a while.  She talked to the kids and made them laugh some to lighten the mood.  I know her concern for me was sincere.  She just couldn’t understand my need to be here and see this through with Clay.

After an hour or so she left.  I sat back in the chair and closed my eyes.  I could hear the girls praying again asking for daddy to be saved.  They were asking for him to come back home.  Tears began to swell in my eyes.

Pastor Carl Visits

Later I heard a knock at the door. “Come in.” I said.

“Hi Liza.” It was Pastor Carl.
“Hello pastor, thank you for coming.” I replied.

As is common when one begins to receive visitors, I once again went over the abbreviated version of Clay’s condition.  I tried to explain things in a sensible way that the doctor had told me.

“It is rather odd.  So, it appears as if he is functioning normally but in the coma?” he asked.

“Yes.  His heart rate will climb, he will even begin to sweat like he is working out.  The brain activity is showing almost normal, then at other times everything looks like a normal person sleeping.” I said.

“Do you think he can hear us?” the pastor asked.
“From what we can tell, no.  Still there is no way to really know.” I replied.

Noelle, my youngest, then spoke up “He can’t hear us.  God has him.”
“Baby, daddy is still here with us he’s not gone.  He is just not awake.” I replied.
“No, God has him.  Jesus took him to meet people.” She said.

The pastor looked at me and smiled then quietly mouthed that it was okay.  The pastor stayed a while, prayed with us, and entertained the kids.  After he left we were once again alone.

The Insisting Of Children Brings Concern

We were about to have food delivered that mom had ordered for us.  I began to tidy up the room so we could each have a place to eat.  It was here that my eldest Kate caught my attention.

“Mom?”
“What?” I asked.
“Noelle is right.” She said.
“What are you talking about?”
“Dad really is not here.  God does have him.” She replied.
“Well if that’s the case then God will take care of it right?” I was trying to comfort them.
“You don’t believe us.” Noelle said.
“Actually I do.  It’s just that until he comes back, he has to be there right?” I replied.

“I saw him with Jesus.  He was talking to daddy.  They were sitting beside some trees on the ground.  After they talked big rocks fell from the sky and hit a city.  Daddy is okay though.  His horse found him.”  Noelle said.

I looked at her and my heart sank.  Maybe this was all too much for them and mom was right.  They really shouldn’t be here.  I picked up the phone and dialed her number.

“Mom, are you still in town?” I asked.
“Yes, I was doing errands.  Why?” she said.
“Maybe you should get the girls, I think they need a break.” I replied.

Immediately they began to protest.  Along with protests came the starting of sobs saying I didn’t believe them.  I tried to explain to them that we were all tired and they needed some real rest in a bed.  After they got baths and some rest they could come back.

They eventually accepted the idea on the promise they would return.  Mom came and picked them up.  Thankfully they didn’t fight too much as they were leaving knowing they would be back.

The Pastors Assurance Things Are Alright

After they left I then called Pastor Carl.  I related to him what Noelle had said and asked him what he thought.

“Liza, It’s most likely nothing.  The kids are stressed.  They remember a Bible story and maybe they talked about it.  This is a way to help them cope through this.  It might be good for them to talk to someone about it.  They are in grieving.” He said.

“That’s true.  I’m pretty stressed too.  It just seemed oddly specific when she said it.  I mean what city could she be talking about anyway?” I asked.

“Well, most likely at some point she heard about Sodom and Gomorrah.  There are other instances of fire coming from the sky in Joshua’s time and in other places, but those cities are the most talked about.” He continued.

“They just took something they heard and in this stress a story was created.  They know dad is here but asleep, in their terms.” He said.

Revelation Of Noah, Abraham, And Isaac

After hanging up I was left alone looking down at Clay.  It was time for me to get a break too.  I returned home, cleaned up, and got some rest.  Well, at least I got as much rest as I could get.  Mom dropped the girls off at the house in late afternoon.

I decided we would visit again but not stay all night.  That is, unless something changed in Clay’s condition. It could then turn into an all night ordeal.  I made a small meal for us and we sat to eat.  After this we would leave.

While eating I could hear my girls trying to whisper as kids do.
“Where is dad at now?” Kate mouthed to Noelle.
Noelle shrugged her shoulders.

“Okay girls.  Just tell me this story so I know.  What is going on?” I asked.
“Noelle can see where dad is at sometimes.” Kate said.
“You weren’t supposed to tell.” Noelle protested.
“So, where have you seen dad?” I asked curiously.

“Let’s see.  He met Noah.  Then he met Abraham.  He has two friends named Jared and Nathan.  Jared is funny.  They have wolf dogs.  He met Lot, Sarah, and Isaac.  He saw Isaac lay himself down to be sacrificed.”  Noelle was recounting but I interrupted.

“See that’s where the story is wrong.  Abraham bound Isaac and put him on the alter.  Isaac didn’t do it on his own.” I countered.

“Yes mommy but you don’t know.  He didn’t have to be tied up.” Noelle countered again.  She continued to pick at her food and eat a bite here and there.

Confirming Isaac’s Story With Pastor Carl

After getting to the hospital we sat for a while and the girls prayed some more, as did I.  I received a text from Pastor Carl that he would be stopping by again.  He had to visit someone else in the same wing of the hospital so he would check in with us when he came by.

A couple hours later the knock came at the room door.  Pastor Carl walked in and had some gifts for the kids.  This excited them.  I motioned to the pastor to step with me outside.

“So, I have a curious question that might sound weird.” I said.
“Okay that’s fine.” The pastor said smiling a bit.
“When Abraham bound Isaac and was going to sacrifice him, Isaac didn’t really have a choice right?” I wanted confirmation.

“Actually he did.  Based on what we know Isaac was not a child, but a young man.  He had to travel over one hundred miles to Moriah, carry a pile of wood on his back while climbing a mountain, and help his near one hundred- and twenty-year-old father.”

Pastor continued “Best estimates would place Isaac anywhere between eighteen to twenty-five at the time.  The binding was symbolic to what Christ would later face.  He could easily overpower Abraham and run away, but he didn’t.”

“When Isaac laid down on the alter he was a willing sacrifice, just as Jesus was.  Jesus too could have with His power stopped what happened.  Abraham was a willing father to obey the command to sacrifice Isaac.”

Pastor Carl still continued “It puts the verse into perspective “for God so loved the world He sent His only Son”.  Our heavenly Father was willing to sacrifice His Son.  Abraham and Isaac were a promise to the future.” He concluded.

“I’m just curious, why do you ask now?” the pastor looked at me with some concern.
“Umm, Noelle told me Clay saw Isaac lay down on the alter willingly.” I replied.

Pastor Carl Questions Noelle

The pastor’s stare into my eyes was one of shock.  He then turned and opened the door and walked into the room.  He sat in the chair across from Noelle and watched her playing with her new toy.

“Noelle, can I ask you a question while you play?” He said.
“Yeah.” She replied.
“How old did Abraham look when your daddy saw him?” He asked.
“Old like grandpa.”
“How old did Isaac look?” He asked.
“Umm, like my cousin Jeremy.” She replied.

The pastor looked over at me and asked how old Jeremy was.  I told him he was a college aged kid, in his third year of university.

“Noelle, what other things did you notice that are interesting about your dads story.” He asked.
“It’s his adventure.  Jesus said that He was going to do everything He could to help daddy.  But, Jesus said that daddy has a hard time connecting his head to his heart.” She replied.

Intimate Revelation Of Words

I almost burst into tears.  I turned and immediately left the room.  Pastor Carl followed me out.  By the time I reached the hallway I was fully crying.

“Can I ask what she said that hit you so hard?” The pastor began searching.

“When we would fight, we would always do it in private.  In one of our worst fights, I was trying to get a point across that I always felt.  I just never knew how to say it.  It did not matter if it was his faith, or his relationship with me, or with the kids, there was always this distant abandoned style of acting.”

I continued. “That comment, he cannot connect his head to his heart, I used only one time.  It was in a fight when the girls were not with us.  It was a bad fight.”

We both walked back into the room.  I walked over to the bed.  I looked down at Clay and felt his hand.  I looked at his heart rate and it was elevated.  His breathing was fast, arms sweaty.

“Where are you Clay?”