Barney & Quack Quack Duck
Monday, August 11, 2025
“Continually before His eye—the eye of the Lord never sleeps but is perpetually watching over my welfare.” - C.H. Spurgeon
The date was March 8, 1994… one of the longest days (and nights) of my life.
Our three-year-old son Chris had just been wheeled into surgery on a hospital gurney. As we kissed his face, prayed over his frail little body, and waved goodbye, he smiled bravely, clutching a stuffed animal in his arms.
Its name was “Quack Quack Duck”, and he never went anywhere without it. Meanwhile, “Barney”, his other favorite stuffed animal, patiently waited for Chris back in his hospital room.
And so, Deanna and I waited and prayed… and waited and prayed some more. We called two dedicated prayer warriors and then went to the hospital chapel ourselves, the same room where I had broken down in tears the night before. However, this time I felt a strange peace, knowing that our precious son was in God’s hands – right where he belonged.
The experimental brain surgery took eight hours, twice as long as expected, because not only did the doctor have to try to correct the damage from the stroke on the left-side of his brain, but also try to prevent a similar stroke on the right-side.
When they finally wheeled Chris back to his room, his head was wrapped in bandages, and his eyes were swollen shut. In fact, his entire face was swollen twice its normal size. We both leaned over and gently kissed his sweet face and whispered words of comfort and love in his ear.
Only one parent was permitted to spend the night in his room and at that point in his life, Chris was a real daddy’s boy. And so, it was my privilege to watch over him through the wee hours of the night as he drifted in and out of consciousness. Every time he woke up, I was there to reassure him of my presence since he couldn’t see anything through his swollen eyes.
I’m guessing that neither Deanna nor I got more than a few minutes sleep that night, but we were comforted by the fact that God didn’t doze off for a single second. Not during Chris’s operation, not during his convalescence in the hospital, and not during the 30 years he has enjoyed 100% stroke-free since.
My friend, rest assured that our God cares as much for you as He does for Chris. And instead of surrounding you with Barney and Quack Quack Duck, He has assigned His angels to watch over you 24/7, 365 (see Psalm 91:11-12; Matthew 18:10; and Hebrews 1:14).
“Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
