Shawn McVay’s Thin Place: Praying for Mom

5 Comments 07 July 2011

Shawn succinctly shares her thin place in a powerful way. How amazing to serve the God who is near.

*****

In 1997 my mom underwent colon cancer surgery. Due to having advanced lung disease the doctors were concerned about her going under anesthesia. Their concerns were valid. She came out of the surgery, remained on a ventilator and in a coma.

As the weekend got under way many people were praying for her. We five kids knew that this was the horror mom had always dreaded: living on a machine.

Sunday evening while sitting in church I received a call from the hospital. Mom had taken a turn for the worse and they weren’t expecting her to make it through the next hour or so.

I called all my siblings and we met at the hospital with the doctors. Her doctors were Christians and told us that it was now in God’s hands. The five of us headed to the ground floor of the hospital and found an unoccupied area. Each of us talked about our love for mom and each other. Then we took turns petitioning God for our Mom.

Never before and never since have we siblings come together and felt His presence like we did that night. We were there in our little world for several hours. Right as we were getting up to go check on mom one of the nurses found us with the news that she was once again responding to the treatment.

Mom came out of the coma and off the machine. She lived another 6 years. She lived her life to the end for Jesus. I miss her presence still today. I have several of these Thin Moments where God came near. Thank you for letting me share this.

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Shawn_mcvay

Today, 9-14-11, marks the 8th year since Mom has been gone from this earth, yet she is more with me than she was while she was on this earth. I see, hear and feel her presence in each of her grandchildren that she loved so dear (even Brianna who was born after mom passed). I know her love for her grandchildren in the love I have for my own grandchldren. It has been a rough 8 years and so much has happened because life goes on even though the lives of those we have lost do not. Mom left 5 children who are still connected today; she left 12 grandchildren to be loved by us; she now has 14 great-grands with 3 on the way; and lastly she has one great-great grand blesses her dad and mom’s lives. So she lives on in each and every one of us. Thank you, Mary for allowing me to write and submit this story. I never would have otherwise.
Anonymous

Wow — what a tesimony of God’s power coming down when we pray fervantlyl. Thanks for sharing this.
http://www.eileenknowles.blogspot.com Eileen

Thank you for sharing this. It reminded me of God’s beautiful timing. God is always with us and yet sometimes He reminds us again (even in the darkest hours) that He is in control. I love those reminders of His sovereignty! I lost my mom to cancer nearly 20 years ago. I was by her bedside when she died and God was there with us. It was a beautiful moment even in the midst of sorrow.
Melody McVay Dillard

As Shawn’s sister, I applaud her for he exact depiction of what that time was like.
Kim

Thank you for sharing, Shawn. Your personal reflection was lovely. The power of prayer is a tremendous gift. It has the ability to unite people in such a way that is indescribable.

I love the richness of your words, “felt His presence,” “in our little world,” and “Thin Moments where God came near.” As I continue to digest them, I am able to take away a lesson on grace. I love how it all comes together and points back to God. But your words, “She lived her life to the end for Jesus,” they spoke to my heart. What a wonderful legacy your mom shared with you and what an intimate gift of love from God to those who were granted the gift of time with your sweet mother.

Blessings and Hugs,
Kim