It was the summer after my senior year of high school when we got the news that my grandpa needed surgery to replace his failing pacemaker. He was 89 years old at the time and he made the decision to not go through with the surgery.

He was rapidly deteriorating and came to stay at our house so my parents could help take care of him in addition to the Hospice care.

On the night of his passing, I couldn’t sleep. This was strange for me, even as a teenager, because I always fall asleep the moment my head hits my pillow and I shut my eyes. It was well after midnight when I had an intense prompting to go downstairs and I followed that prompting and went and sat on the couch downstairs.

Shortly after I settled in, my dad came downstairs and said he was having a hard time sleeping too (also strange because I totally got my sleeping habits from him). We sat and enjoyed each other’s company before we started hearing my grandpa. My dad went to check on him and it was apparent he was not doing well, so we called his Hospice care nurse. She was able to come over and provide pain relief so that my grandpa was able to pass peacefully, with family by his side.

I believe spiritual influence prompted my dad and me to stay awake that night. I believe spiritual influence nudged us both to go downstairs just shortly before my grandpa needed us.

God works in mysterious ways. I know He guides us. He comforts us in our times of need. All we have to do is open our minds to the promptings we receive. To hear and listen to that still, small voice.