Livin' on a Prayer

Beep....Beep Beep.....Beep....The room smelt like hand sanitizer and plastic. IVs and whiteboards lined the walls like decorations on display. My palms were cold and damp, and all I could hear was the repeatitive noice of the heart monitor: Beep....Beep Beep....Beep. My brain was buzzing from pain as I tried to repress a stinging headache. My father lay on the nearby hospital bed; silent and terrified. A few moments earlier a nurse had informed my parent's that my father may not be able to recieve a liver transplant. For the last year he had been battling with liver failure, and that night we were given a hopeful call that all might be well. Unfortunately my father had surcommed to seasonal pneumonia and the option of surgery was being debated.



The "Rocker" Himself

That night I changed. That night I learned a lesson I have never been able to forget. I sat in a chair next to my father's bed as my mother was given a tour of the hospital wing. My father, once a large boisterous man, lay motionless and quiet. I watched as he struggled to surpress the tears that seemed to continually run down his face. In that almost unbareble moment, I felt the full weight of sorrow and disappointment. Why was this happening? What could I do? I was only fifteen years old, and knew nothing of consoling or comforting. In that moment I did the only thing I could possibly think to do....I said a silent prayer.

 I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything. There is much of my life I have yet to live. But what I can share with you are the simple truths I do know. That night I offered the deepest prayer of my heart.

"Heavenly Father, why is this happening?.....Heavenly Father, what do I say?.....please.....what should I do?"

God works in mysterious ways and often in his own timing. I sat in my chair starring at my father, wishing so deeply that a miracle could be performed. In frustration and uneasiness I shoved my hands in my pockets, only to have my fingers slam into my IPod. Lightning struck....





My Mom and Dad...both healthy and doing great!



I quickly pulled out my ear buds and scooted my chair closer to my father. I grabed one bud and put it in his ear and placed the other in mine. His face lit up as I started playing his favorite songs. Suddenly the once gloomy room was a concert hall where my father and I "rocked out" to Jackson Five, Queen, and last but not least Bon Jovi. As the familiar lyrics of "Livin' on a Prayer" started playing, I grabed the remote controler from off the bed and began to use it as our microphone. My father's legs began shaking as he played the base with his feet. His hands rocked back and forth as he strummed the air-guitar. Tears continued to roll down his cheeks, but this time they were from laughter.

A scripture comes to mind that I have often found comfort in times of trial. It is from a missionary named Ammon in the Ancient Americas. He shares a profound truth that goes as follows: "...I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things;" (Book of Mormon, Alma 26:12)In this verse comes that knowledge that our greatest strength come from our Heavenly Father. He is there to make any moment of sadness, a moment of relief.

I know that God lives. I know that His strength is always there. Call upon your Heavenly Father. He is there, and He is always willing. When times in life seem completely unbearable,I have remembered the lesson I learned that night: The best times always seem to come as I start "Livin' on a Prayer".