One year ago today I was gearing up for the Living Christmas Tree. I was greatly looking forward to it. I was coming off a very emotional season. (Ok, let's face it ... what season hasn't been emotional for me?) Anyway that fall had been full of some incredible highs (One of the highs that season was getting to go with CAK to their first State Championship and they won!!) & lows. It was the third fall that my dad had been without a full time job and things were starting to look very bleak.
God had always been faithful & provided for our every need but I could see it was taking a toll on my dad. He was called to preach. And you can only keep a preacher quiet for so long. He had been blessed with an interim position for a while and Mom still had her job at CAK. Yet the winds of change were starting to blow at the end of that October and life was quickly becoming more uncertain every day.
Then one day Dad gets a "random" contact from a church in Mississippi Jackson , TN
I remember that Sunday well because I was so emotional thinking about what would if they were called to the church and what would happen if they weren't. I was on praise team that Sunday & was a nervous wreck. I went to lunch with some friends to Cracker Barrel and discovered that people put sugar on their grits. I was floored. I digress. While we were there I got a call from my mom & the church voted 100% yes to call my dad as pastor. I knew this was a smart church!
So the rest of the day flew by with a nap, serving on praise team in the evening service and going to a new friend's Christmas party. It was about 11pm and I was on my way home when my sister called and said that Mom & Dad had just returned from MS and Dad thought he was having a heart attack!
I remember thinking that wasn't even possible. The man jogged 5-6 miles a day. We discussed the possibility of it being a panic attack & I headed to Parkwest Hospital
Mallory and I didn't have to wait long in the waiting room before they let us join Mom & Dad in the ER. Once we got in the room Dad started telling us how he started having pain at 4 that morning but he knew he had to preach so he just prayed through it. Working in a medical office I have enough ... um ... common sense and understanding to know that time is of the essence when it comes to issues like this. I couldn't believe he had dealt with this pain off and on all day long and never really said a word.
Well, Parkwest was great & on top of things within 5 mins the attending doctor was in the room looking at Dad's EKG. I'll never forget the words that came out his mouth. He said something like, (ok so it's not verbatim, sue me! The message is still the same.) "Mr. Mullins, you are having a heart attack." My dad's eyes became huge, my mom turned white and backed up against the wall and Mallory and I just started crying. We quickly left while they prepared him for the cath lab.
Mallory and I got into the lobby and started making phone calls. It's a weird feeling to have your adrenaline pumping & yet you are numb at the same time.
A nurse came came to take Mallory & I up to the cardiac waiting room to meet Mom. It was just the three of us & Mom asked me to pray. I knelt and called upon the Lord to heal my father and grant the doctor wisdom.
Within a few minutes my brother was there and a precious friend came as well. It was 1am at this point and my phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number but I answered anyway. The voice on the line said, "Melody, this is Hollie Miller. I just heard about Bobby. What's going on? Would you like for me to come up there? How's your mom?" We spoke and then I passed the phone on to my mom and my pastor prayed with her. It still brings tears to my eyes to this day.
Well I'm thankful to say, God heard my prayers and answered me. Dad ending up having 3 stints put in that night. One artery was at least 95% blocked. The Lord heard our prayers and answered us. We were able to spend time with Dad before calling it a night. I left the hospital at 3am. I slept for a few hours then met my mom and sister at 8am so they could go home & rest. Within 30 mins in walked Jon Tyner & Jamie Evans to minister to Dad and I.
From that point on there was a steady flow of people coming by, calling, reaching out on Facebook and through other means to minister to us. I've never been on the receiving end of that type of ministry and it still leaves me speechless today. To see the body of Christ come together in such a huge way like that still gives me chills. I have so many sweet memories from that week including:
**Chick- Fil-A being brought to Mal & I for breakfast in the ICU waiting room
**A Monday night chat fest in the same waiting room with friends that left our sides hurting from laughing so hard
**Being covered in prayer at the Friday night dress rehearsal when I found out that Dad was going back to the ER due to chest pains (he had 2 more stints put in on Saturday morning)
**Numerous shoulders to cry on and never once being left alone during the Tree
I am so thankful for the Lord's protection, provision, healing and faithfulness during that week and in the past year. My sweet parents are a testimony to the goodness of God. And my father is further proof that you can't keep a good man down.
Thank you again for all your prayers, support and encouragement since.
To God be the Glory great things He has done!!
I love you all.
- Melody
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