I remember when my father called me to speak to me about his sickness. At the time he called he was already in the hospital for a number of months and was very ill. I knew that he wasn't going to get any better but knowing my father as the strong person he was I always assumed he would fight through it. A few days before he passed he called me on the phone. He was always to the point so he didn't waste any time to let me know that he was tired and ready to go home (heaven). I remember weeping on the phone and he counsoled me that everything was alright. As i wept I remember he made a joke concerning the White Socks. He said "I waited all these years to see them win the World Series and now they have." It was his way of saying..he had no regrets concerning his decision.
In the days leading up to his death some amazing things happened. He came to know the Lord while in the hospital. He attitude changed and he was excited in a way i had never seen before. He INISISTED that we baptize him and we tried to accomidate his wishes in everyway. So I called the pastor who frequently visited with my parents to let him know of my father's wishes. He went out to the hospital right away. This part of the story is what was told to me by the minister.
Minister: (Voice Mail Message) Hey Bill, we went over to the hospital to baptize your father and this has to be the hardest baptism Ive ever performed! (laughing) Since your father can't leave the bed and he has so many tubes and devices hooked up to him we could barely move him. So we borrowed some buckets and we poured a little water to the back of his head and the water ran into a bucket. I told your father - Guillermo, I don't want to get you so wet that you go home to the Lord sooner then you have to! Your father laughed...and we got through it OK.
....To be continued.....
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