A Warrior's Final Battle

Take a moment and read this entry in John Piper’s journal that narrates his father’s recent passing. It is quite moving…you might want to have a hankie handy…

HELLO, MY FATHER JUST DIED

Tuesday, March 6, 2007. 2 a.m.

The big hospital clock in room 4326 of Greenville Memorial Hospital said, with both hands straight up, midnight. Daddy had just taken his last breath. My watch said 12:01, March 6, 2007.

I had slept a little since his last morphine shot at ten. One ear sleeping, one on the breathing. At 11:45, I awoke. The breaths were coming more frequently and were very shallow. I will not sleep again, I thought. For ten minutes, I prayed aloud into his left ear with Bible texts and pleadings to Jesus to come and take him. I had made this case before, and this time felt an unusual sense of partnership with Daddy as I pressed on the Lord to relieve this warrior of his burden.

For the rest of John Piper’s journal entry, click here.

*photo courtesy of Josh Harris’ website