Beloved Physician

by Al Lacy

  When the paperwork was done, Rosie said, “Dr. Logan, I’ll advise Dr. Carroll that you’re here. I’ll just send him up to room 224.”

  “All right. Thank you, Rosie.” Dr. Dane turned to the others. “Let’s go.”

  As the group moved from the lobby into the hall that led toward the stairs, Eric held on to one of Nelda’s hands and Tharyn held on to the other. When they reached the stairs, the attendant turned the wheelchair around and carefully pulled it up the stairs backwards, one step at a time. Soon they were on the second floor. The attendant stopped at the nurses’ station to inform them that he was taking Mrs. Cox to her assigned room, and a nurse joined the group as they proceeded down the hall.

  When they entered room 224, they saw that the covers were already turned down on the bed. The attendant lifted Nelda from the wheelchair and placed her gently on the bed, and the nurse covered her up, doing what she could to make her comfortable.

  After the long, bumpy ride from Central City, Nelda was more than happy to settle into her soft hospital bed.

  The nurse gave Nelda a drink of cool water, told her to ring the little bell that was on the nightstand if she needed anything, and left the room, saying she would check on her later.

  Eric, Tharyn, and Dr. Dane were just gathering around the bed when they heard footsteps in the hall and turned to see Dr. Matt Carroll enter the room.

  A smile broke over Dr. Carroll’s face as he focused on the Logans. “Dr. Dane! Tharyn! It’s so good to see you again!”

  “Good to see you again, too,” said Dr. Dane, shaking hands with him.

  Tharyn then greeted him and offered her hand. As Dr. Carroll took the small hand into his own, he said, “I sure do miss you around this hospital, Tharyn. It just isn’t the same place without you.”

  Dr. Dane chuckled. “Well, you can’t have her back.”

  Carroll shook his head. “I was afraid you would say that.”

  Dr. Dane then introduced Dr. Carroll to Eric and Nelda Cox.

  After Eric and the doctor shook hands, Carroll looked down at Nelda. “Mrs. Cox, I don’t know if you and your husband realize it, but Dr. Logan is the hip replacement expert of the West. I am confident that you will be very happy with his work.”

  Eric smiled. “Dr. Logan hasn’t told us that he is the hip replacement expert of the West, Dr. Carroll, but Nelda and I have the utmost confidence in him. We know Nelda is in good hands.”

  Dr. Carroll nodded, then turned and winked at Tharyn. “Actually, Mr. and Mrs. Cox, Dr. Logan wouldn’t be so good if he didn’t have the all-time expert surgical nurse of the West to assist him.”

  Tharyn blushed as the Coxes and Dr. Dane laughed.

  When the laughter subsided, Dr. Dane said to Dr. Carroll, “I have some very good news about Eric and Nelda.”

  “Oh?”

  “Mm-hmm. Last Tuesday, Tharyn and I had the joy of leading this precious couple to Jesus.”

  The eyes of Mile High Hospital’s superintendent widened. “Well, wonderful! I’m always glad to hear of souls being saved and added to the family of God.”

  Both Coxes smiled and nodded.

  “Eric was baptized in our church on Sunday,” said Dr. Dane, “and Nelda is going to be baptized when she has sufficiently healed from her surgery.”

  “Indeed, this is good news. I’ve heard much about Pastor Mark Shane, and I know he will be a real blessing to you.”

  “He already has been,” said Nelda, “and Eric and I know he will be a greater blessing in the days to come.”

  Eric grinned. “For sure. We have so much to learn. And Dr. Logan and his dear wife have been such blessings, too. Not only did they lead us to the Lord, but they have taught us a lot about the Bible.”

  “I have no doubt of that.” Dr. Carroll patted Nelda’s hand. “Well, I have to get back to my office. We’ll see that you get the best of care while you’re at Mile High Hospital.”

  Nelda smiled up at him. “Thank you, Dr. Carroll, and God bless you.”

  When Dr. Carroll was gone, Eric and the Logans sat down in chairs beside Nelda’s bed, and they talked about the Coxes’ newfound salvation. Both Eric and Nelda spoke of the peace they had in their hearts, knowing that their sins had been forgiven and washed away in the blood of God’s Lamb.

  Eric said, “Nelda and I have been reading the Bibles you gave us, and we’re learning so much. We’ve been reading through the Gospel of John, as you suggested, and we have a question about what Jesus said about Himself and the Father in the tenth chapter. What did He mean when He said, ‘I and my Father are one’?”

  Dr. Dane and Tharyn looked at each other, smiling, then Dr. Dane went to a small table against the wall, where a Bible lay. He picked it up. “You will recall that in our conversation last Tuesday, we made it clear to you that Jesus is eternal, as is the Father and the Holy Spirit. The three make up what the Bible calls the Godhead.”

  Eric and Nelda both nodded. “And we believe that,” said Eric, “but what did Jesus mean that He and the Father are one? Does that mean one in purpose or one in agreement?”

  “They are that, all right. But much more. Let me say first, that we human beings will never understand the great and almighty God, who wonderfully, yet mysteriously, is in three persons. He is too far above our finite minds. We believe that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God, yet there is only one God. We don’t believe it because we understand it. We believe it because God’s Word says so. He wouldn’t be much of a God if His creation could understand Him. Let me show you some Scriptures that declare that God is one in three.”

  As Dr. Dane opened his Bible, he said, “I’m going to read you a couple of prophetic verses in the book of Isaiah about Jesus Christ. First, a verse prophesying His virgin birth. Isaiah 7:14. ‘Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’ Do you know what the name Immanuel means?”

  Both shook their heads, indicating they did not.

  Dr. Dane looked at Tharyn. “Tell them, honey.”

  Tharyn smiled. “The name Immanuel means ‘God with us.’ ”

  “Right. So, Eric, Nelda, who would this virgin-born child be?”

  “He would be God,” said Eric.

  “Yes,” said Nelda. “So Jesus is God.”

  Dr. Dane nodded. “Right.” He turned a page. “Now, let me read you Isaiah 9:6. ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.’ This is the same virgin-born son that is spoken of in Isaiah 7:14.”

  “Jesus,” breathed Nelda reverently.

  “Correct. Did you notice that this Child, this Son, is the Mighty God?”

  “Yes,” said Eric. “Jesus is God.”

  “Yes. Did you also notice that in this verse He is said to be the everlasting Father? It’s like He said in John 10:30, ‘I and my Father are one.’ Don’t try to understand it. You can’t. But believe it because the Word says so. Jesus is the Father, yet He is the Son.”

  Eric and Nelda looked at each other, marveling.

  Dr. Dane flipped back to the New Testament. “Listen to what it says in Hebrews 1. Verse 6 tells us what God the Father said when He brought Jesus into the world. ‘And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.’ I’m sure you know that to worship anyone other than the true God is idolatry.”

  “We know that,” said Eric.

  Nelda nodded.

  “Good,” said Dr. Dane. “Then you will realize that the Father in heaven is saying His only begotten Son is to be worshiped. That means Jesus is God then. Now listen to verse 8, where the Father calls Jesus God. ‘But unto the Son, he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.’ The Father flat calls His Son God.”

  “Th
is is wonderful to hear,” said Nelda.

  Dr. Dane’s brow furrowed as he looked at Nelda, then glanced at the clock on the wall. “You’re looking pretty tired, Nelda. It’s almost four-thirty. I’ll show you one Scripture, which deals with the Holy Spirit being God; then we’ll get out of here and let you rest.”

  While Dr. Dane was flipping to the book of Romans, Eric set loving eyes on Nelda and said, “You really do look tired, dear.”

  Dr. Dane found his passage. “Listen to Romans 8:9. Paul is writing to born-again people, who used to have a carnal, fleshly mind before they were saved. ‘But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.’ Did you catch that? The Holy Spirit, here, is not only called the Spirit of God, but He is also called the Spirit of Christ. We have here, the three in one. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God. There is plenty more on this subject in God’s Word, but that’s all for today.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” said Eric. “Now we know what Jesus meant when he said, ‘I and my Father are one.’ ”

  Nelda’s eyes were droopy. “It’s just beautiful,” she said. “What a wonderful God we have!”

  Dr. Dane suggested they have prayer, and as the four of them joined hands, he prayed about the surgery that would be performed on Wednesday and asked the Lord that all would go well.

  When he had finished, Dr. Dane looked down at Nelda. “You get some sleep now. Soon it will be time for them to bring your supper. We need to get to the Brockman place so we can let Breanna know we’re here and can get settled in our rooms. We’ll be back to see you this evening.”

  Eric kissed his wife’s cheek, Tharyn squeezed Nelda’s hand, and the three of them left the room.

  As the trio was heading for the stairs, Dr. Dane and Tharyn saw Dr. Tim Braden coming toward them. He greeted them; then Dr. Dane introduced him to Eric, explaining that he was the husband of Nelda Cox, who would be having a hip replacement on Wednesday.

  When the two men had shaken hands, Dr. Tim said to all three, “Dr. Carroll had advised me that the Logans would be bringing one of Dr. Dane’s patients in for a hip replacement.”

  Tharyn quickly told Dr. Tim that the Coxes had received the Lord Jesus as their Saviour just this past Tuesday, and Dr. Tim rejoiced to hear it.

  Dr. Dane said to Eric, “Dr. Tim is doing his internship here at the hospital, and will finish up next May. He’s engaged to marry Tharyn’s best friend, Melinda Kenyon, who lives here in Denver.”

  Eric smiled. “Well, congratulations. When’s the wedding?”

  “Next May, right after I finish my internship.”

  Eric patted his shoulder. “I know you will both be very happy.”

  “It wasn’t so long ago, Mr. Cox,” said Tharyn, “that Melinda and Dr. Tim met at church and fell in love. Dr. Tim’s plan is to have his own practice or become a partner in a practice somewhere here in the West.”

  “Well, he looks like an energetic young man to me. I’m sure he will do well in the medical profession.”

  Tim looked at Tharyn. “Melinda talks about you every day, saying how much she loves you.”

  Dane grinned. “Well, I can testify that Tharyn does the same thing about Melinda.”

  “I’m not surprised. And I should tell you that the Brockmans have invited Melinda and me to dinner tonight so we can have some time with you two.”

  “Hey, that’ll be great!” said Dr. Dane. “We’ll look forward to it.”

  Tharyn’s features lit up. “We sure will!”

  Dr. Tim glanced down the hall. “Well, I’ve got a patient to look in on, so I’d better get going.”

  Moments later, while Dr. Dane was driving the carriage out of town toward the Brockman place to the west, Tharyn told Eric that she and Melinda Scott had become good friends when they both lived as orphans in an alley in Manhattan, New York. She went on to explain that they were on the same orphan train together, and that Melinda was chosen by George and Hattie Kenyon at Topeka, Kansas. She and Melinda kept contact by mail for many years. Then to her pleasant surprise, George Kenyon was sent to Denver by the Denning Hardware Company to manage their Denver store.

  “It was so good to be reunited with Melinda, Mr. Cox. We are still very close friends. In fact, we are best friends. The Kenyons live out here in the country, near the Brockmans.”

  Soon the carriage pulled into the yard of the Brockman place, and Tharyn pointed toward the house. “Oh, look, Dane! Melinda is here already! I see Abe!”

  Dane focused on the bay gelding with the white blaze on his face and the white stockings on all four legs. “Sure enough!”

  Eric frowned. “Who’s Abe?”

  “That bay horse that’s tied at one of the hitching posts in front of the house. Melinda named him Abe in honor of her favorite United States president of all time, Abraham Lincoln.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s nice.”

  “Aren’t those flower gardens beautiful? Breanna sure knows how to grow flowers!”

  “She does. But you’re just as good at it. You just don’t have as much area around your house in which to plant flowers.”

  She smiled. “Aren’t you sweet?”

  Just as Dr. Dane pulled the carriage to a halt in front of the house, two blondes came out the front door, smiling at them. Melinda said something to Breanna and dashed off the porch as Dane was helping Tharyn out of the carriage. The best friends were quickly in each other’s arms.

  Dr. Dane introduced Breanna and Melinda to Eric Cox. Eric was welcomed warmly; then Dr. Dane told them about Eric and Nelda being saved last Tuesday. Breanna and Melinda were overjoyed.

  Breanna asked about Nelda, and Dr. Dane told her that she was in a private room at the hospital and resting well.

  Eric said, “Miss Melinda, Mrs. Logan told me this is your horse over here.”

  A proud look came over Melinda’s face. “Yes, sir.”

  “Mrs. Logan also told me that his name is Abe.”

  “That’s right, Mr. Cox. Would you like to pet him?”

  “I sure would.”

  The others followed as Melinda led Eric to her horse. While Eric was stroking Abe’s white-blazed face, he asked, “How long have you been riding horses, Miss Melinda?”

  “Just about ten years. When I was first adopted off the orphan train, we lived on a small farm just outside of Topeka. I was given a horse shortly after that, and I’ve been an avid horsewoman ever since. Daddy bought Abe for me shortly after we moved here. We live just about a mile southwest from here.”

  “I see. So you ride him a lot, do you?”

  “Oh yes, sir. Almost every day I take Abe out for a good fast ride all the way over to the South Platte River, which is two miles west of our place. There is plenty of open, level ground between our place and the river, and Abe and I enjoy being together. In fact, we just got back from a good ride, and I decided to come on over to the Brockmans’ place so I could be here to see Tharyn and Dr. Dane when they arrived.”

  Breanna said, “Well, now that Mr. Cox has met Abe, I’d better take my guests inside so they can get settled in their rooms.”

  Eric was led to his room and began unpacking his suitcase.

  Tharyn and Dane’s room was the same one they had stayed in on several occasions before, but the beauty of it always struck Tharyn anew each time. The wide windows were open to a breathtaking view of the snowcapped Rockies. The room was decorated in lovely cool green colors and was a refreshing sight on such a warm day.

  A bouquet of fresh-cut flowers sat on a small table and sent off a wonderful fragrance. Tharyn was amazed at how well-kept the Brockman house always appeared. She appreciated the loving effort that Breanna put into it.

  After the guests had unpacked their suitcases and were settled into their rooms, Breanna took them into the parlor. Melinda and Tharyn sat down side by side.

  Moments later, the Brockman children—nine-year-old Paul and se
ven-year-old Ginny—arrived home from school. They were glad to see Tharyn and Dr. Dane and to meet Eric Cox.

  Shortly thereafter, Dr. Tim Braden arrived, eager to spend some time with Dr. Dane and Tharyn.

  After a little while, Breanna took Tharyn, Melinda, and Ginny to the kitchen so they could help her finish preparing supper. They were busy at their task when the tall, broad-shouldered chief U.S. marshal came through the back door. Melinda had just stepped into the hallway and called to the men in the parlor, telling them supper was ready in the dining room.

  Ginny rushed into her fathers arms, and after he had kissed her cheek and that of Breanna, he welcomed Tharyn, saying it was good to see her again. Breanna then led everyone in the kitchen to the dining room.

  At that moment, Dr. Dane, Dr. Tim, Eric, and Paul entered the dining room from the hallway. Paul dashed to his father and hugged him.

  John then shook hands with Dr. Dane, welcoming him, and did the same when he was introduced to Eric Cox.

  John was pleased to learn that the Coxes had received Christ as Saviour six days ago. He then said, “Now, Mr. Cox, let me tell you something I know to be a fact.”

  Eric looked up at the towering figure. “Yes, sir?”

  “The Lord has provided your wife the best surgeon this side of the Mississippi River to do her hip replacement. He’s good at what he does. She’s in the best of hands.”

  Dr. Dane laughed softly. “I appreciate your kind words, John, but let me add that even more important, Nelda is in God’s hands.”

  The chief nodded. “Can’t argue with that.”

  Breanna said, “All right, folks, let’s sit down here at the table. Supper is ready. I’ll show you where to sit.”

  Breanna’s lovely features beamed as she seated the group around the large table. They all looked the food over and made comments on how tasty it looked. She had made a huge chicken pot pie, filled with succulent carrots and peas that she had grown in her garden. She had placed it in the middle of the table, which was covered with a snowy white, embroidered cloth.

  Small bouquets of flowers had been placed at both ends of the table, sided by candles that sent off a soft glow.