Page 6 - Good News November 2015 paper

ne crisp, early November However, something about those words pouring out of my mouth. book, wrote down my phone
morning, I took a brisk agonizing sobs pulled me back. I They came with a compassion number and address and handed
Owalk on a beach near my slowly turned and walked towards and conviction that weren't my it to John.
home. Except for the gentle surf him. He was still crying and hardly own. God was there with us,
and some screeching seagulls, seemed to notice me. I took a explaining His love and care to “Call me,” I said. “We'll talk and I
the beach was silent and closer look and saw a man in his this desperate young man. can also get you a Bible.” Then I
deserted. Emotionally, I was forties, dressed in jeans and a got up to continue my walk. I
reeling under the stress of a T-shirt, short hair and cleanly “John,” I said gently, “you've hadn't gone far when he got up
recent difficult divorce. How was shaven. Certainly not a dange- been through a lot and you are and ran after me, calling me back.
it possible that a family like ours rous-looking man. Gently, I sat facing a lot more. You need
could totally disintegrate? down beside him. For a moment, someone to lean on, to support “You know,” he said, when he
no one spoke. you. You need Jesus as your caught up with me, “you are an
We already had our two daugh- Friend. You can trust Him, and He angel who dropped in from
ters when I was diagnosed with Then I asked softly, “Are you all loves you, John. God is there for heaven.”
cancer. Treatments followed with right? Can I help you with you. Jesus, His Son, died, so that
the usual sickness and loss of something?” He kept staring at we may have peace and eternal I smiled and said, “No, John,
hair. These treatments were the ocean. life. We need this peace to go you've watched too much TV. I'm
unsuccessful, and eventually I through life,” I stressed. not an angel.” I turned away
had major surgery. Miraculously, “I have melanoma,” he said. again, but he stopped me. Slowly
I recovered from this ordeal and “They are going to amputate my I told John a little about my own he took his necklace off and
was given a clean bill of health. leg.” life's struggles and illnesses. handed it to me.
During the following months I Taken aback, I was silent for a “I could not have made it without “I want you to have this,” he said.
began to lose my balance and tire moment, then began to ask him God's help and support. Even Tears came to my eyes again.
easily. After many doctor's general questions, hoping to calm today, as I was walking on the
appointments and tests, I was him down and get his mind on beach, I felt His Presence and His Overwhelmed, I knew I couldn't
diagnosed with multiple scle- something else. strength. Without Him, I could refuse his gift, so I carefully
rosis. My Health Insurance never have survived. But look, I'm accepted it and pulled it gently
Company offered no treatment or I learned that his name was John. still alive and I still have hope. You over my head.
hope. I coped the best I could, He was single and alone in the can too, John.”
had hand controls put in my car, world. I noticed a necklace he was When I returned home I hung
used crutches on bad days and wearing, made out of old string Our conversation continued. John's necklace over my desk
even a wheelchair at times. fashioned into a cross. Wanting to John had many questions. The lamp. Every time I saw it there, I
keep the conversation going, I gentle surf kept rolling toward us, prayed that God would keep him
My husband was unable to cope asked him: “Where did you get and I knew God was at work in safe and in the centre of His will.
with all these illnesses. He began that, John?” John's heart. Finally, I asked him if
to show symptoms of manic he wanted to pray. Slowly he I did not hear from John again,
depression and eventually “I made it in Vietnam,” he began. nodded his head. but the following Spring a letter
became abusive, even to the “My buddies and I were in a arrived. There was no return
point where he once beat me foxhole. They were all killed, Gently I led him in a prayer of address. Inside was a small card.
unconscious. except me. The enemy was still forgiveness and surrender to the Taped to it was a crumpled piece
around so I could not move or let Lord. We both wept, but this time of paper from my cheque book
GOD had been my strength and them know that I was still alive. To John's tears were not tears of with my address.
anchor during these ordeals. I get my mind off the danger, I took sorrow, but tears of relief and
knew He was walking with me, the strings of my buddies' gear peace. Deeply moved, I was On the back of the card was one
that He would never leave me or and started to knot it into a amazed at this transformation sentence: John went to be with
forsake me, and knew all about necklace. I prayed for safety while and in awe that God had used me the Lord. When I read it, I cried
my wounds and hurts. It was His I was doing this and put a cross at in this way so unexpectedly. and removed John's necklace
peace that had carried me thus the end. I have never taken it off,” from my lamp and put it with
far. Some days, when my legs he finished. “John,” I finally warned, “you're other treasures in a safe place. I
were strong enough to carry me still going to be facing a hard time. knew I would see John again in
unaided, I enjoyed my beach “When you were praying,” I asked You're a child of God now, and heaven.
walks like this one, on this crisp softly, “did you believe that God there are going to be some
November morning. heard you?” roadblocks ahead of you. It's very But the story did not end there.
important that you find a good Three years later during the
In the distance, I spotted a man “I don't know,” he said. “My life church, get a Bible and start month December, I received a
sitting quietly on the sand, was spared, but what for?” Now I reading it.” I suggested a local mysterious Christmas card.
gazing at the ocean. have a deadly disease. Look at all beach community church. Again there was no return
the thousands of people who address. Inside was a hand-
Yet, as I passed him from behind, were killed during the war. How “People dress informally there, written note that said: “I'll be
I saw his shoulders shaking and can a good God allow all this?” John. You can come just as you eternally grateful for my son's
realized that he was sobbing, are.” eternal life. I'm John's mother,
apparently in great agony. I explained as best I could what and I now attend his church!”
Should I stop and talk with him? A the Bible has to say about good I got up to leave and rummaged - Mia Watkins
perfect stranger? Who knew if he and evil, war and disease. As I through my bag for a business
was a fugitive or an ax murderer? spoke I was strangely aware that card but found none. Finally, I tore [Tears in my Heart by James
I walked on. somehow these weren't my own a deposit slip from my cheque Collins, Xulon Press, 2007].