Dad’s Surgery

Tears started to fill Ashley's eyes as she stared at the movie playing on the TV without really watching it, and she brushed them away. Her dad was having heart surgery tomorrow, and she couldn't get him off her mind.She felt her aunt looking over at her. "Want to help me make some popcorn?" Aunt Laurie asked.Ashley got up and left her sisters and cousins to follow her aunt to the kitchen. "Thinking about your dad?" Aunt Laurie asked.Ashley nodded. "I'm trying not to worry, but it's hard.""It's okay to be scared." Aunt Laurie touched her back. "I know I am."Ashley glanced at her aunt. "You are?" Aunt Laurie nodded. "I've been praying and trying to give my worries to Jesus, but it's not always easy. Sometimes I have to remind myself that even the writers of the book of Psalms questioned God and admitted when they were afraid.""They did?" Ashley asked."Oh yes. Some of the psalmists in the Bible even asked if God would reject them forever." Aunt Laurie pulled a big red bowl from the cupboard. "But they also praised God in the end. They remembered all the amazing things God had done and how He always looked out for them.""And He'll look out for Dad too?" Ashley asked quietly.Her aunt set the bowl down and hugged her. "We need to pray and trust that He will. But even if something bad were to happen, we can still praise God because of the amazing things He has done. Jesus died and rose again to save us, and He promises to get rid of all sin, sickness, and death one day. No matter what happens, we can trust Him because of that.""Will you pray with me right now?" Ashley asked."Of course." Aunt Laurie bowed her head and led her in a prayer asking for healing for her dad and peace for all of them. Ashley felt a bit better when she was done."Want to help me with this popcorn now?" Aunt Laurie asked.Ashley quickly nodded. She still felt scared, but was glad she could trust God to take care of her dad, no matter what happened.–Bethany Acker