On Sunday, General Hospital (GH) fans saw that Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) hosted Josh Swickard’s grandpa, Art Stratton Brown. We reported that they talked about discipline, growing up in Chicago, belonging to gangs and going off to fight in World War II. However, much more came along. So, here’s a bit more.
During & After The War
On State of Mind, Maurice Benard seemed fascinated by war, and he sat riveted as Art talked about a friend being shot, how he nearly got shot, and much more. But then, they started talking about after the war. How do you experience that and come out intact with no therapeutic help? Well, it seems that Art found comfort in the bible.
Art Stratton Brown read the bible before he went to the war, and afterward, he kept on. But it was during his time in an army hospital that he really felt the need for prayer. Very ill, he’d been sent off the battle field.
Close To Death
The hospital wasn’t much more than a tent with a stove and rows of army cots. Notably, a doctor was way less than encouraging, and he gave Art a devastating diagnosis. Josh Swickard’s grandfather recalled, “He butched around and told me I wouldn’t live to the end of the week.” With a high fever, Art admitted, “I was a mess by this time.”
Two days later, still in his twenties, Art said that he felt as if death was approaching. “I just about died… I knew I was dying. I could just feel my life leaving my body,” he said.
But then, General Hospital fans heard that he turned to God. In his desperate moment he said, “Well Lord, I’m your personal property. You’re in charge of you can take care of your own stuff. I belong to you.”
Praying Himself To Health
Fending off panicky feelings, Art told the real-life Sonny Corinthos that he repeated that prayer, and one day, things changed. “Suddenly I began to feel like I was in a sphere of peace. Of warm peace. I mean it just felt wonderful.”
Then he started mending, and despite the lack of encouragement by the doctor, the now-102-year-old “walked out of the hospital.” Placed on limited service he had plenty of time to think about things spiritual.
Talking About Death
Talking about death, Josh got real and as Art Stratton Brown is now in his hundreds, he asked his grandpa straight up what he thinks about the end of life. Well, the old man still finds a lot of comfort in the scriptures.
The ABC veteran and Josh Swickard listened closely as Art talked about being older. Well, for him, “Every day is a gift,” and he feels deeply “thankful to the Lord.”
He described a morning ritual built on a personal, conversational relationship with God. “I talk out loud and I quote different verses of scripture and I sing.” Oh, and that all happens while he makes some breakfast.
Doing it in the morning means that old veteran can put his mind into gratitude for his his parents, grandparents, and “dozens of different friends who really blessed me through my life.” For all of them, he says, “God bless their families because they blessed me and I’m praying for them.”
Positive All The Time
His mornings often involve reading the scripture, and that’s something that makes him feel positive. He said, “I get back in the Psalms and I quote the Psalms and I feel so great, so good, so positive.”
Being thankful means that Josh’s lovely old grandfather doesn’t fear death. Instead, he noted, “filling my life with praise and thanks displaces every negative thought I could have.”
Maurice Benard wrapped it up tearfully, and talked about how the spirituality was so very touching. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your General Hospital cast news and updates.