What Else Could I ask?

 It was about 9:30 on Wednesday morning, March 4th, 1998

I went to the bathroom to comb my hair before heading out for the day.  As I raised my comb to part my hair, I felt a rip inside my chest and I felt the blood flow through the tear, but, no, surely it wasn't blood because I was still standing.

Then the sirens that had never sounded so good.  To the hospital then by helicopter to Methodist Central in Dallas.  Six hours of surgery and my brother was told I had one chance in 20 of living to tell about it.  My Cardiologist told me later that wasn't right, that I really had one chance in five.  Later at church when I was discussing this, one of the members said, "I don't know about the odds.  All I know is you are the only one I know who ever lived to tell about having a dissected aorta.

Since that day, all the children in the picture above were born to our sons and their wives.  My sons honored me by asking me to perform their wedding ceremonies.  All my sons and their wives are Christians and are faithful in their church attendance.  They have their children in church with them, and our two oldest grandsons have been baptized into Christ.

I have been blessed with a wonderful wife, Carolyn, who has stood by me through 49 years of marriage.  We are all in good health, physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Oh sure, I am on blood thinner for life because of that artificial heart valve, and I'm on blood pressure medication, but I continue to preach every Sunday and work with our middle son as co-owner of Jonathan Mark Homes, Inc.

That's a lot to be thankful for.  As I said, "What Else Could I ask?"   The Lord's been good to me!  Praise be to His name!

Harley Pinon