I was grateful for my assignment to speak in church on Easter Sunday. The Easter Season has been more meaningful for me as I studied and pondered on the mission of Jesus Christ and the example He set for us. Mark was beginning to “wake up” and was thinking that he would have the strength to join me for church that day.

On Saturday afternoon I began to receive texts asking about Mark’s status and then telling me that another speaker had COVID and would be unable to attend. I wasn’t sure if I was being told that I could take a little more time speaking… or if they could possibly be hoping for Mark to fill in? It was the latter. I replied that I would speak with Mark and see how he felt. At the time he was sound asleep but hadn’t eaten for some time so I woke him up to eat because that seemed like a better time to present this opportunity.

“Ummmm, Nooooo,” was his initial, tired reply. After a little thought, “I don’t want to be the sick guy up there…”

By this point I was feeling that this was something he could handle, so when he finally asked my opinion I was supportive of the idea. I felt that “the sick guy” giving an Easter message would give a little extra power to it. He consented but assured me it would be a 45 second message. That evening I spent with my mom and when I returned he told me he had stretched it to two minutes. Perfect! (The rest of us had just five minutes each to provide time for musical numbers and children’s participation.)

He waited in the car until right before the meeting began. I had saved him a seat behind the podium because he didn’t want any extra attention. The entire meeting was beautiful. Mark gave a short talk based on John 15:13-14.

“Greater love hath no man that his, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.”

Mark was, indeed, able to testify with power about Christ being a friend. He stood there 40 pounds lighter and breathing with the aid of an oxygen tank – it was obvious that he had sought for and found the friendship of our Savior who could give him strength and comfort as no other.

Easter was particularly significant to us this year. I spoke of the example of the Redeemer and mark spoke of His teachings. To both stand and share testimony of Jesus Christ on the celebration of the most important day in the the history of the world – it was beautiful to us.

PS – as we drove home from church I told Mark that I felt his willingness to do this would bring him the blessing of a quicker recovery. He then amazed us all at Easter dinner by eating everything on his plate including ham and later ice cream (meat and dairy have not been an option for ages). He has actually been able to eat a great variety of things ever since and we are amazed.

Other updates – we had to go for labs three times last week but were only sent to the ER once – a six hour stay came with an infusion of platelets and an infusion of blood. Otherwise he was told to lay still when possible and move with purpose (no falling or bumping his head). This week he has been able to walk around the block twice but it is with a good amount of effort and his legs are sore. This will take awhile…

Another quick story about Mark attending church – he has only been able to come once in awhile and usually for just twenty minutes or so. At some time in February he was determined to stay the whole time and so we didn’t sit in the back. A family with several children was in front on us – their little boy (who is maybe three years old) took one look at Mark and ran to his dad, “Dad! There is a weird man!” We caught the other young children sneaking peeks at the weird man with his noisy oxygen machine throughout the services. What a good laugh we had when we got home that day.