A Man Named Robert

Last week, I received a call from a viewer who said her brother is a big fan. "He suffered a stroke earlier this year and he would love to meet you," she told me. I listened closely to her rave about her brother and how much loved him. "It would just make his day if you could come by the rehab hospital and see him." I explained that I don't normally make house calls as I have several stalkers. I find myself trying to be sensible about where I go and my surroundings. She seemed to understand and said, "If you could drop by at 2pm, I'll make sure he's in the lobby with his nurses." The Holy Spirit gave me an assurance that I would be safe at this visit.

But, my day started off a busy one. Homeschooling, gym workout, trip to the grocery store, and fixing lunch for the kids. As I hopped into the car that afternoon to drive to the rehab hospital and then on to WLBT, I noticed my car was on "E". My day had already been busy, only to be topped off by my empty car and fighting tears. I had been emotional all day long as I had looked at the calendar and realized it was the fourth anniversary of me losing our second child in late 2004. I was stressed, emotionally unstable, and worn out.

I pulled into what I thought was the rehab place. When I walked in, a lady at the front desk told me I was at the wrong place. I had missed my turn and walked back to my car. I just need to go back home and start all over again, I thought. It really won't matter if I don't show up to see this guy. I'm not in the mood. But the Holy Spirit said 'Go'. I found myself back in the car and pulling into the driveway of the rehab hospital.

I road the elevator up to the third floor. The doors opened and standing in the doorway was the lady who had called and asked me to come see her brother. "We are so glad you are here!" she said. "We didn't tell him you were coming, just in case you didn't show up. Follow me!" she said with excitement. As I walked past the nurses station and rows of chairs in the waiting room, I saw the back of a man in a wheelchair sitting in front of a large bay window.

"Robert, look a here!" she said as I turned and faced him. "It's Barbie Bassett, from WLBT! She came to see you!" Robert had suffered a stroke and is on a breathing tube, feeding tube and is completely paralyzed. The only movement I could see was his eyes. I noticed his index finger lift slightly. "He's trying to shake your hand," his sister leaned over and explained. So I picked up his hand and put my hand inside his. There, in front of the window, I had a one-sided conversation with 45 year old Robert. I told him about the weather outside, I told him about my children, and my co-workers at WLBT. "Robert just lights up when you come on tv every night," his sister said quietly. "His wife left him after he had the stroke and is with another man now. All he has is his daughter and a few of us family members who come to see him." When it was time for me to leave, I patted his hands one more time and noticed large tears streaming down his cheeks. Robert knew who I was and I could tell he was happy I came to visit.

Isaiah 49:16 says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." How easy it is to forget the Roberts of this world--to get so caught up in our own life, our hectic schedules, our obligations and our own sorrows. We may forget the hurts others have, but God doesn't. We are a constant reminder to Him, inside His hands.

I didn't know why the Holy Spirit was nudging me to go forward on this day and why Satan was trying his hardest to make my life too full and my emotions get the best of me. When I left the rehab hospital, I knew why. God wanted to show me a world outside of myself and how He works to make little miracles like Robert happen every day.