The Call

By: Sherry Ford

The call. The dreaded call. The call from the NICU that your precious, beloved child is not doing well and you need to get to the hospital ASAP!

This was our nightmarish reality 17 years ago…November 15, 2002.

With one call to our Pastor, not even our parents, we rushed out in deafening silence with our hearts beating faster than ever before and with fear speaking louder and louder as we advanced. And the thoughts, ohhh the thoughts…what would we find…what if this is it…how will we go on without him?

God’s Awesome Word was my only defensive weapon against this onslaught! By the time we arrived at WK South NICU (50 minutes away), I didn’t realize it then, but God’s Strength and Peace was at work in my heart already. I turned to my beloved husband and our Pastor and said, “Please don’t go in with me unless you are in total faith.” I believed God for the miraculous. Understating simply…it did not turn out as I had hoped.

Caleb had made his transition to Heaven. The glorious liberty that I’d prayed for and declared over his frail body for six and a half months had come…but not as I had fashioned it in my mind’s eye 1000 times. So, what now…Will this HUGE, EMPTY hole in my heart ever be filled…can it be healed? The great news is a resounding YES!!!

Tomorrow, God! What about all the tomorrows without CALEB, the son we’ve waited seven years to embrace?

A few days after his service at our beloved church, Greater New Zion (Benton, LA), I asked my husband a startling question: Honey, would you be ok if I went home (Heaven) to be with Caleb?

No suicidal thoughts or anything like that. I just thought if I petitioned my Heavenly Father, He may have said yes (an irrational moment in the grieving process because the pain is indescribable). Thank God for His Amazing Grace. He knew that our son and every other son or daughter in His glorious presence are FOREVER healed, whole, and more loved than we could ever imagine! Each one is enjoying the splendors of Heaven! TOTALLY FREE from this sin-cursed world.

By the way, Charles (my husband), responded to my question with one simple word, “No.”

My response, “Well, I guess I’ll stay.”

And I have not regretted pressing forward one moment! We have been comforted with the same comfort we extend to you this day.

Happy Heavenly Birthday
CALEB EMMANUEL FORD
Sweet lil’ baby boy of Charles & Sherry Ford
May 3, 2002-November 15, 2002.