Joe's 2 Important Men Joe and his dad had lost the closeness they once shared--it was Joe's choice of profession that was a wedge between them. His dad had never accepted what Joe had become and strongly resisted anyone's attempt to sway his stubborn opinion.
Suddenly, the quietness was broken by an alarm from one of the machines. Joe came fully awake and quickly moved out of the way as the nursing staff responded. He had learned the best assistance he could render was to give them plenty of room. The alarms had become increasingly frequent over the last several days--Joe knew they signaled impending finality.
After a few moments of watching the controlled chaos, Joe slipped out of the room and made his way down the hall. He had decided to contact his boss and make another appeal for intervention in this matter. It was true the doctors had done all they knew to do, yet Joe knew his boss was powerful and had additional resources available.
Contact was established and the appeal was made. He was reassured that all would be well. He returned to his dad's room and found the machines quiet once more. Apparently, the crisis was over for now. He moved to the side of the bed and gently took his dad's big hand in his.
"Dad, you remember the time you and I went fishing and the mud was too deep for me? You picked me up and carried me over it. I caught the biggest fish ever that day.
"And when I learned to swim? I nearly sank when I saw you 'way back there, but you yelled, 'You can make it!' and I did. Or when I learned to ride a bicycle? No matter how late you had to work, you always had time to go 'round the block with me. You kept me from crashing until I could learn to steer and stop on my own.
"You taught me how to sew on a button, swing a bat, play the guitar, light a campfire, make a hoop shot, drive a car. You taught me how to press my clothes, make my bed and keep my room straight. You said Mama would be pleased and she was.
"I was watching when you and Mama would hug each other when you came in at night. It was fun to see you sneak up behind her in the kitchen as she cooked and hug her close to you. I used to dream of the day when I would have someone in my life that I could make smile and blush the way you did Mama. Someone whose face would light up for me the way hers did for you, every time she saw you. I would see your faces when you'd look at her and wink--oh, she'd blush and you would laugh. And when Mama cried? It wasn't often, but the times that she did, you were there to hold her and stroke her back while she sobbed on your shoulder.
"You taught me that it was good to say 'I'm sorry'. I learned how to listen to others by the way you always took time to listen to me. Dad, you gave me the best thing any kid could have--you. Much of who I am today is because of who you were to me, who you will always be to me. Even the relationship I have with my boss is because of what I learned from you." He paused for a moment as he stroked his dad's thinning hair, then moved closer still.
"You know, Dad, I was never afraid to go to you with anything--I'm not afraid of my boss for that very reason. That's why I've wanted so badly for you to meet him. You'd like each other, I just know you would. It's not too late, there's still time. Trust me on this, Dad, just as I trusted you. Know me as your son, that as you love me, I love you."
There was no response from his dad. Joe stood up and leaned over, putting his face against the older image so like his own. He didn't see his dad's eyes open, nor did he see the tears gather at the corners and slide down his dad's temples, as Joe began to speak again:
"Jesus, this is Joe. This is my dad, Jesus. You know, Mom and I have been telling You about him for a long time. I love him, Jesus, I love him. He's leaving soon, and I can't go with him. I want You to be there with him. Deal with his heart, Jesus, and let him know he can trust You, just as I trusted him."
Joe felt a slight movement from the bed and raised up to find his dad's eyes on him. In a voice weak and low, his dad said, "I trust you, Son. I thought you would become weak. I was wrong. Introduce me to his boss of yours. You lead this time and I'll follow."
Without hesitation, Joe began the introductions. His dad was too weak to repeat every word, but Joe knew his boss understood. He and his dad had a few days to renew their former closeness before his dad died.
As he preached his dad's funeral, Joe was happy to relate that while he didn't know all that had taken place between Jesus and his dad, the older man's last audible words were simply, "Thank You, Jesus."
Two of the most important men Joe could ever know had finally come to know each other.
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