Thank You Lord For Answering My Prayers

Thank you Lord for answering my prayers.

I left Miri at about 9.30 am this morning, arriving at Empire Country Club & Hotel at about 11.15 a.m. As I do not know the way to Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC), I had made arrangement with Ken Cho, my best buddy in Brunei, to pick me up at Empire and send me to JPMC.

Ken dropped me at the hospital car park and I made my way to Sophia’s room. When I entered her room, I saw several people in the room, including her old mum, her daughters and some church members.

Sophia motioned to me to sit on the chair next to her bed. As I sat down, Sophia reached out her left hand and held my right hand. Despite her sufferings and fatigue, she managed a weak smile and whispered “Thank you, Lim.”

Sophia’s smile was one of the most uplifting moments I have ever experienced. I fought an inner battle not to cry. Sophia’s courage and strength were truly amazing.

I did not do a good job at encouraging her as I was overwhelmed by such a sense of sadness. I could only offer some words of encouragement about remaining strong.

Sophia whispered to me that she felt so tired. She seemed to doze off for a short while but her hand was still holding mine. I sat watching her, marveling at her strength.

Then an elderly relative of Sophia entered the room and sat in another chair on the other side of the bed. She hugged Sophia and then her tears started to flow. It was the last straw for me. Tears started to well up in my eyes.

I stayed by Sophia’s bedside for more than half an hour, watching her doze off and then awakening again.

Sophia with her daughter

Then I saw Sophia’s husband entering the room. He came over to talk to me and after a while he went outside to the balcony. Seeing that Sophia had again dozed off, I gently wiggled my hand out of Sophia’s hand and went to the balcony to chat with her husband. I could see the pain and sadness in his eyes as he talked.  I know how fearful he must be at the thought of losing his dearest wife.  When he talked about Sophia, his voice oozed with love and his admiration for Sophia’s immense inner strength. After a while, he too lost control and his tears started. I struggled to hold on to my tears but again I lost.

After about an hour and a half at the hospital, I had to say goodbye as my friend Ken had been waiting in the car park for so long. When I opened the door to Sophia’s room, a church member made a sign to me not to make any noise as Sophia had fallen alseep. I decided not to enter the room so I just said bye to Sophia’s husband.

I had been praying yesterday for Sophia to hold on. Thank you Lord for answering my prayer.  And thank you Ken for all your help.

Nothing is impossible with God. Despite Sophia’s dire condition, I am not giving up on my prayers for her. As long as she is still hanging on, I will continue to pray for God’s healing.

Oh Lord, please have mercy on Sophia.  Let her have another chance to conquer Mount Kinabalu!