Being Completely Devoted

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

    and he will establish your plans.

Early in 2003 Fred Evans fell and broke his hip. Not unusual for a man of 88. However, it was the events over the next few weeks that showed the world what this man was made of.

The next day he had an operation which turned out to be a total hip replacement.

Within a few days he was sent to a Rehabilitation Hospital, with all the usual hopes for a complete recovery for a man of his age and situation: "absolutely none," said the medical experts and nursing staff!

Funny about that, absolutely no hope at all.

His son’s first conversation with his Dad was a few days after his admittance to the Rehab Hospital in Sydney.

"A bit of pain Son," he tells his son..."but I'll be okay." "See all of these other old blokes in here, most of them have been in here for between 3 and 6 months, with no hope of ever going home." "No way will I end up like them!" "I will go home to your Mum within the next few weeks!"

Because of the distance between Newcastle and his Rehab Hospital, his son didn't get to see him every day, but phoned regularly. He did get to see him each weekend.

On his next visit he stopped at reception desk on the way to his dad’s ward. The duty nurse gave him a "rave review" of his progress, saying that they didn't believe what they were seeing. "Your Father is a walking miracle," he was told.

As he approached his Dad's bed he saw him getting something from the other side of his bed as he was swinging himself into a position to get up and spend some time with his son.

Walking sticks.

"Thanks for coming in to see me Son, it's good to see you, come for a slow walk with me," he said.

He proudly assured him that he was okay to do it on his own, but it would be nice if he were right there next to him as they "walked." Sure enough, he had been so determined to get home to his wife of 62 years, he had been "training" hard every day!

So they went for a stroll around the corridors of his "prison," and was he proud of his ability to conquer the odds? You bet he was!

Only 3 weeks after being admitted to that "depressing place," he WALKED OUT without any assistance from anyone - a walking miracle.

He only had one motive, but a very powerful one. To get home to his beautiful wife of 62 years, Margaret...he missed her.

His determination, courage, and incredible love and devotion towards his wife was an inspiration to all.

Are you completely devoted to God? Imagine what we could accomplish if we as dedicated to God as Fred was to his wife we could win the world for Christ.

Dear Lord, we pray that are devotion would be so strong to You that we could accomplish everything You have planned for us to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.