Clarissa had this thought on her mind every moment of every day.
She felt a disconnect with her Mom ...and she didn't want to see her. That was painful too ...and she didn't feel it made her near impossible days any easier. But, she had honor. Mom had done her best to raise her, and Mom had lived in dangerous times too. Clarissa supposed it was her time to care somewhat for Mom, in return. Her heart was not in it, but she felt a sense of obligation. She resolved to just show up a couple times each week ...she wouldn't stay long, since Mom didn't acknowledge her presence anyway. But, that served her well too ...as she didn't really want to be there. The only hope she ever has for any peace, is a few minutes of sleep ...but, that is, if she's able to dream of when she was a little girl. There had been some happy times ...but, thinking of family now, only gives her pain. So, continually, she is a total emotional wreck.
Clarissa had always come in the late afternoon. But, today she decides to visit just after lunch. The nurse she likes to talk to, is not there, so she asks another nurse if it's okay to visit. Of course, it is always okay ...but, she always imagines they'll say 'no', and she can just leave.
Clarissa wants to leave ...she doesn't think she could handle it. She had been told by the regular nurse that the only time her Mom talks is mumbling into the patient's phone ...and it just so happens that looking down the hallway, there is her Mom reaching for the phone mounted on the wall.
At first, Clarissa does not even want to imagine that Mom is doing this. No one, who loves their parent, wants to witness the actual event which proves they've gone off the deep end. She hesitates, then slowly approaches.
What she hears, gives her mixed emotions. But, that's been nothing new ...and most of her emotions have been mixed-up. She can't be getting as bad as Mom though. But, it's not mumbling coming from her Mom ...she is talking clearly.
Clarissa wants to leave. She feels hurt, and betrayed. How could her Mom talk on a phone like this, and clearly not talk to her own daughter?
Clarissa recalled what the regular nurse had said, about the phone likely not working ...and that it was likely only providing an avenue for her to safely express herself without being challenged by a real person. Diagnosed by so many people giving their opinion on the extent of a mental condition, can drive a sane person crazy.
The nurse sees her hesitation in approaching her Mom, and attempts to comfort Clarissa, "Many mental illnesses create their own safe zones ...and some even develop multiple personalities, carrying on a complete extensive conversation with themselves. I think I'm going to look into that, and see if people with more than three personalities can get a group rate."
The nurse's attempt to get Clarissa to laugh fails.
Clarissa is tired, and she wants to leave ...but, she listens to the end of the conversation her Mom is having. It sounds, from the conversation, that her Mom thinks she is talking to the police. Suddenly, she ends the conversation, and turns around ...as if she had known this whole time that her daughter was there.
And for the first time in months, her mom speaks to her, "I told you prayer works. Each day, I pray all morning ...and God tells what Frank is thinking of doing. I don't know who Frank is, but the police know him. And they thank me for the tip I'd given them the previous day. I then pray all afternoon, thanking God. And the next day God tells me more about this Frank the police haven't been able to stop. And before you put me in here, you said I was crazy, because prayer doesn't work."
The next day, Clarissa's Mom dies. The following week, Clarissa goes to her Mom's funeral. A police officer is there. He tells Clarissa that Frank is in custody because of the last tip her Mom had given them, and he will be going to prison. Frank's last words were that he didn't know how, but he was going to find out who was leaking the information, and he was going to have him killed."
The officer later visits Frank, "I'll tell you who told."
Frank mocks his sincerity, "You won't tell ...it would be a death warrant. You know I have people who'll kill the person who told."
The officer smiles, "Not many ...you sort of did away with most of the people who were loyal to you, don't you remember. And I'm going to tell you who told, because you won't be able to do anything about it anyway."
Frank had to endure this madness for all too long, and he is furious, "What makes you so sure ...like I said, I don't take nuthin' from nobody! I'll have him killed ...you can bet on that, I promise!"
The officer continues to smile, "The one who told, has already been killed ...but, is very much alive, and only he can promise."
Frank is in no place to give orders, but he does anyway, "Get outta here!! You don't make any sense ...an' I'll have you killed too."
The officer adds, "Frank, your killin' days are over, thanks to the one who helped us convict you. And I told you I'd tell you who tipped us off, ...and I will. It was Jesus. And I'd plea guilty, if I were you!"
(Now, this is not a true story ...but, God does hear our prayers, and answers them. God may not answer prayers in the time frame that we'd desire, and He may not answer them in the way we may expect. In the Book of Genesis, Joseph didn't understand why he was hated by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery. Joseph was carted off to Egypt ...and he didn't know what would befall him. Joseph was a good servant, so was put in charge as the overseer of Pharaoh's house. Did Joseph then understand, why when he refused to be unfaithful to his master by the prompting of his master's wife ( telling her, "There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he kept back anything from me, but you, because you are his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"), that she continued to pursue him?? And when one day she seemed in no mood to accept 'no' for an answer, and had grabbed his robe ...he had immediately fled her presence. Yet she had cried out, and said that Joseph had forced himself upon her ...which mightily angered her husband. Did Joseph understand, at this time why this all transpired ...and why he was then put into prison?? He assuredly understood why he was put in prison ...because he was set up, but it was not a clear answer to prayer. While in prison, Joseph interpreted dreams, which was then made known to Pharaoh ...whom also had a dream that disturbed him. Joseph interpreted the dream of Pharaoh, but said, "It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer ..." That is, in saying, from God through Joseph. Then also, well over a thousand years later ...Daniel was in Jerusalem when King Nebuchadnezzar and his army besieged it, and he and others were taken captive. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him in his sleep ...but, he did not only ask for an interpretation of the dream, he demanded that they tell him the dream also. It seems that King Nebuchadnezzar had his doubts about his own so-called wise men ...which included magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers. It seems that he felt they'd been interpreting dreams however they saw fit. But, they couldn't fake it ...not if he told them to tell him the dream first. After Daniel had prayed, and also thanked God for the answer, he was brought forth, and he spoke forth his answer, "The secret which the king has demanded cannot the wise men, astrologers, magicians, or soothsayers show unto the king; but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets ...".)
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