Prayers for Patrick

Have you ever listened to the words of Laura Story's song Blessings?

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

I heard this song on the radio today, and it hit me. Mainly because of Shane's day at work yesterday.

Shane ate breakfast with his coworker, Patrick, before they began to participate in a company celebration day. This was a day to play games, win prizes, and connect with coworkers.

Shane and Patrick talked football, and discussed his kid's first day of school - all of them elementary aged. They also talked about how Patrick had been notified he would be losing his job soon. He was on the hunt for a new position, either at Pearson or elsewhere. Basically a normal conversation you would have during breakfast.

A couple hours later after one of the activities, Shane was running to get water because the man he had just had a conversation with was having some sort of attack, probably a heart attack.

He passed away not long afterwards.

Shane ended up working late last night to finish up a project. He told me, when he walked to his car he thought it was odd because he was the last to leave the building, but there was two cars in the parking lot.

Shane assumed it was Patrick's, but found out later that it wasn't.

Regardless, Patrick wouldn't be driving home to see his wife. Or to ask his kids how their first day of school was.

Shane called me at work to tell me about this. I haven't stopped thinking and praying for his his family since. I cannot image being the wife that gets a phone call like that. I'm sure Patrick's wife can't imagine it either.

If you have a second today, please send up a prayer for Patrick's family.