My Unlikely Miracle at the Local Christian Store

Before I tell what happened at the store, I need to preface with what happened a few weeks ago.

It was Sunday, and Abe and I were finally relaxing when we got a phone call at 8:30pm from some missionaries.  They were asking us if we would help some strangers move in from a city an hour away...that night...around 10pm.  The missionaries knew hardly anything about them- just that they were outside packing their moving van and were in need, so they knew just the person to call... Abe.  

Abe called the man whose family was moving and convinced him to wait to unpack the moving van until the next morning, so that Abe would have time to get him more help.  The family could only do that if they could get someone to drive him back to their old home that night to get their baby and their other vehicle.  Abe arranged for several men and a bunch of missionaries to help the next morning, and then he offered to drive this stranger back to their old home that night.  

Abe drove this man he knew nothing about and would probably never see again an hour each way.  Abe arrived back at home at 2am and left for work the next morning by 5:30am.  He never once complained but served because that is what Jesus wanted him to do.

Now to tonight...  My 3 older boys (11, 9, & 7) ran a half-marathon (13.1 miles) a few months prior, in October, and I had promised that I would buy them each something special for their great accomplishment.  Tyson wanted to look for his gift at the Christian book store.  He chose something really special with a beautiful message about being strong for Jesus Christ.  

On our way to the check-out I noticed a pamphlet for sale.  It was an anti-mormon pamphlet teaching people how to stand up to the Mormons and why the teachings are so flawed.  Our family is Mormon- the correct name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I was immediately upset.

I went right up to the front desk and asked them why they had this pamphlet at their store.  I told them that tearing apart another religion does not show any bit of the Christianity that they are pretending to uphold.  I asked them if they had any other material against any other church.  They said that they did about the Jehovah Witnesses because they are considered a cult by the Christian community and with their Review Board.  I said, "Are we considered a cult to you?"  She said, "Well I'm not supposed to tell you my personal religious beliefs."  I then realized that this store did not want Mormons there; they thought we were a cult. 

I told them that there was a huge, gorgeous picture of Jesus Christ at the back of the store, and it is done by a Mormon.  They said, "Which one?"  I said, "I'm not going to tell you because you will just take it down.  We don't talk bad about your churches; we teach of Jesus Christ. Do you know the real name of our church?"  One worker said, "Yes... latter day saints?"  I said, "You missed it.  You missed the most important part."  Then she said, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

There were no customers there, only two workers.  

I asked them both to come together because what I had to say was very important, and I wanted them both to hear it.  

I then began to shake and spoke with power from on high.  To the best of my knowledge, this is what I said with tears streaming down my face, 

"Because I will never be shopping here again, I need to speak to you both to tell you exactly what I do believe.  I need you to know of my testimony of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is my Savior.   I love HIM dearly.  HE is the same Jesus Christ that you worship.  HE died on the cross for us and even more HE suffered for all of our sins at the Garden of Gethsemane.  I want you to never forget what I am telling you because I want you to share this experience with all those you come in contact with that are speaking of my religion.  You have the opportunity to clarify with them that we believe in Jesus Christ.  I love HIM with all my heart, and I want everyone to know that HE is the center of our lives.  We have a picture of Jesus Christ in every one of our rooms... the kitchen, family room, and all of our bedrooms.  We came here to your store because it was a safe place to find uplifting messages about our Savior, and we are so hurt that you would sell things that tear us down.  There is no need for this here.  Please remember and know that we believe in Jesus Christ.  When people question my faith in Jesus Christ, it hurts me deeply."

Tyson was standing by my side, and he too shared his testimony of Jesus's sacrifice and his testimony of our church.  

The manager, with the most sincere look on her face said, "Thank you so much for sharing what you feel.  You spoke with a fire and conviction within that I just don't see... thank you."  She encouraged us to write to the corporate office to help make changes.  

Then, the worker that made the comment about the cults, with a softened heart said, "Well, when we moved here, nobody-not even from our church- came to help us, but a bunch of Mormons showed up."  I then told her about my husband helping a family move when nobody came to help.  I shared how he did it just because even though he was tired, he knew that's what Jesus would want him to do.  

The worker looked at me strangely and said, "Is your husband a missionary?"  I said, "No."  A little hesitant, she said, "Is he black and a singer?"  I said, "Yes!"  Then she said, "We are the family your husband helped that night."  She proceeded to tell me the whole story of how they were praying that he would continue to wait for them at their house as they were running almost an hour late, and that they were so grateful for his service.  She came around the counter and gave me the biggest hug.

Can you believe the miracles?  Out of the thousands of people in Kalamazoo, I would have the opportunity to bear testimony to the same family that my husband had recently served.  I would have the opportunity to bear testimony so strong that the Spirit confirmed to the ladies working that night that there was a fire with which I spoke.  I would have the opportunity to proclaim my love for my Savior so strong that it weakens me still at this moment.

The other miracle... my sweet son Tyson... As we walked out of the store, he began to cry because he couldn't believe people thought that we were a cult-that people who sold such beautiful things of Christ could think such negative things about us.  I told him that God had given him a gift tonight.  God allowed Tyson to bear testimony so that he could be strengthened within.  God is preparing this young man to be stalwart in HIS Kingdom.

Martin Luther King Jr Day

What a beautiful day this is for our family.  My husband is black, and I am white, so we have many talks with our 6 beautiful children about their heritage and who they are.  Our oldest said today, "If it wasn't for Martin Luther King Jr, I wouldn't be alive!"  I'm assuming he was referring to the fact that it would have been much more difficult for my husband and I to be married 50 years ago when acceptance was so much more difficult than it is now.  I'm grateful for Martin Luther King Jr's bravery to stand and believe in change for the better.  I am so grateful for the powerful, eloquent, honest, and wise way in which Martin Luther King Jr lived and lead the people.  He continues to lead us today with his legacy. My husband stood before our children tonight and re-inacted his speech.  We were all moved by his words once again.   

Miracle at the Ski Slopes

I took all 6 children snow skiing today during the worst winter storm of the year.  We were all bundled up very well.  Jackson (11yrs.), Tyson (9yrs.), Jordan (7yrs.), and Mariah (5yrs.) all skied for several hours.  It was their first time on the bigger hill and going on the actual lift, so I wanted to stay around for a while to make sure they had their buddy system down and were safely going up and down the slope.  

Juliana (2yrs.) and Jayden (10 months) stayed in the stroller cuddled up for almost 2 hours, but right about the same moment they both started to cry hard.  I held them both in my arms, pushed the double jogger stroller with bags and a cooler and tried to rush to the lodge.  I was feeling like the worst mother in the world having 2 crying children out in the cold.  They had been happy for so long, I didn't realize how miserable they were becoming.

When we entered the lodge, their crying increased because their little hands and toes had to warm up.  For little children, that sensation is horrible.  They cried so hard!  I took their gloves, socks, and boots off and just rubbed their bare hands and feet with my bare hands.

Oh they just cried and cried, and I couldn't console them.  I had never had a hard time consoling them.  Feeling so sad and helpless for them, I said a prayer that they would be calmed.  Within moments they BOTH fell asleep on my lap at the same time!!!!  That has NEVER happened before with any of my children-to fall asleep at the same time within a minute of each other.

I sat on the bench for a long time just watching them and cuddling them both.  I was in complete awe of God's kindness and tender mercy for them and for me.  God put them to sleep and calmed their cries so quickly.  I felt like He knew I was trying so hard to be a good mother, so He stepped in when I needed help the most.


 

                       

God continued to help us even after our miracle in the lodge.  When we went out to the parking lot to our big E350 van, it was in deep snow.  I tried over and over to get it out.  After several prayers, a man drove by in a heavy duty truck, I called out to him for help, and he quickly returned with a tow chain and pulled us out with no problem!  

God so lovingly answered our prayers and continued to stay with us all the way home as well.  Anytime we came to an extra scary area on the snow-packed back roads, I called out to the children to say a prayer in their hearts.  We arrived safely to the warmth of our home feeling very loved by our Heavenly Father for staying with us all through the day. 

Miracle of Being Different: Jackson's Story

                                     

My 11 year old son is camping outside right now in a tent at a frigid temperature of 36 degrees and dropping.  His birthday was last week, and he found out on Wednesday that he was old enough to go this campout with the older boys.  I couldn't believe how excited he was to go!!  It's freezing!!!!!!  I'm cold in my house right now with a sweatshirt on writing this. He didn't show one bit of worry, doubt, or concern to camp in the dark woods in the dead of winter.

Jackson is a special boy.  His birth story is quite miraculous.  I had been planning on doing a natural birth, but because we happened to have a nurse there that was someone I trusted, I decided to follow her advice and start the procedures to get an epidural.  Right after we started the procedures, Jackson's heart rate dropped dangerously low, and they couldn't raise it again.  Emergency c-section was the only option.  

I remember they wheeled me down the hall for surgery while the resident doctor ran beside me marking my stomach for the c-section-I found out later that this was his first c-section he'd ever done by himself!  I thought, "Oh my gosh, I can feel that!"  They paused for literally half a second while the anesthesiologist put the long, dangerous needle in my back, and then they were off again!! 

Upon entering the emergency room, the chaos begin!!  The anesthesiologist took charge.  He yelled at everyone, "Grab this!!  You don't have time to put on your gloves!  Just go!!"  Then, stroking my forehead, he turned to me and gently said, "It's ok; everything is going to be just fine."  He did this back and forth several times; I remember praying for all the angels to guide these doctor's hands because the tension was high in the room.   

The head doctor didn't show up until they were already pulling Jackson out!  The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck 4 times!!  With tears in their eyes, the doctors and anesthesiologist, turned to me and said, "Angels were here helping us today."

Jackson was born with his heart on the right (wrong) side of his body; it's called Dextro-cardia.  He also had holes in his heart (ASD, VSD).  At the time, the doctors believed that was the extent of the problem and that we should just pray for the holes to close on their own.  We were in and out of the emergency room and ambulances for all kinds of illnesses his first month of life, but the doctors still didn't know how severe his heart condition was.  They continued to attribute his condition to other problems.  

When they were about to send him home again after yet another emergency room visit, I had so much anxiety and felt so emotional that I knew something else needed to be done.  My husband gave Jackson a priesthood blessing, and then I told the doctor that I was not leaving that hospital until they checked his heart again.  They saw how serious I was and did yet another echocardiogram.  

This time the surgeon returned and said, "In my 20 years and thousands of hearts, I have never seen a heart like this."  Along with ASD, VSD, and Dextro-cardia, he also had transposition of the greater vessels and his heart was flipped over too!  The surgeon said there were also many other difficult conditions present that he couldn't even explain to other medical doctors.  Upon identifying the problem,  peace settled in my heart.  I knew we were on the road to fixing his problem.

At 14 months, Jackson had major open-heart surgery. He had been crawling around with oxygen tubes on and off up until that time and spent a lot of time with blue lips because his oxygen levels were not rising above 66% as he neared his time for surgery. 

Throughout all of this, Jackson had this beautiful little fighting spirit.  There were hundreds of people praying for him all over the country.  I knew that I could trust that God's will would be done because it wasn't just my faith; it was everyone's faith joined together for his miracle.   

I asked his surgeon if we could have a prayer with him.  He kindly agreed; and after the surgery, this amazing surgeon said, "I still don't understand exactly how his heart works, but it is fixed."  

"Just hours after Jackson's surgery, with wires and tubes hanging out of his chest and every drug imaginable to keep him sedated, he rolled over on all fours and tried to crawl off the bed in the ICU!!  His poor nurse, she practically dove across the room to catch him!

After the trauma of his surgery, he began to behave a little bit more reserved... a little different than other children.  As I watched him play, I prayed harder than ever to know if there was another condition he was facing, and these are the words that I felt God speak to my heart.  "There a lots of things unique about Jackson that others would want to label, but those pieces of him are uniquely put together so that he may do great things.  Just as his heart has never been seen before, Jackson's unique type of personality has never been seen before either."  

Continually worried for him, Abe and I of course gave him all the attention in the world!!  We have a beautiful relationship.  I homeschool him and send him to school for 2 classes each day. The teachers, coaches, principle, and school counselor have all told me how kind and well-manered he is.  His wrestling coach said he has never in his entire life met anyone so thankful and kind.  

Jackson was born with a beautiful spirit.  The way he responds to the worlds is very different.  He is beautiful for his differences.  He truly touches many hearts for his differences and his kindness.   

Miracle #1:  Jackson is alive!  He is strong and confident enough to have participated in 4 plays this year, danced in a recital, literally traveled the country, competed in 2 triathlons, ran cross country, played tackle football, did Karate, went snow skiing, RAN A HALF MARATHON (13.1 MILES), and joined a band playing percussion and piano with kids 2-3 years older than him after never having been to school since kindergarten, and now he's wrestling too! 

Miracle #2:  I can be different too!!  God made me unique to do something special because of my differences.  Watching Jackson walk out into the woods in the frigid air standing about 2 feet shorter than all the other kids made me realize that if this little guy can be brave in who he is, SO CAN WE ALL!!  Others have expectations for who they would like us to be, but God makes us more beautiful than we ever could have imagined only when we give in to who He created us to be.  I'm going to start praying more to find out who
God wants me to become.

                                    

Miracle of the Heater

Today, my husband (Abe) was looking all over the house for our portable heater.  He kept asking me where I thought it was.  I was in the middle of teaching homeschool while putting the baby to sleep, so even though I gave him a few suggestions as to where it might be, I wasn't much help. 

When I finally had a very short moment to think, I started to look for the heater.  It wasn't where I thought I had put it.  Where could it possibly be?  I said a prayer that I would be able to find the heater to help my husband who was working in our cold bedroom/office over the garage. In less than a minute after my prayer, I went straight to the dark corner in an obscure closet in the basement and found the heater!!!  Feeling proud, I ran upstairs chanting, "I'm a champion!!  I found the heater!"  Then, I quickly humbled myself and told Abe that God is the real champion because He told me where it was.:)  Abe said that I was still a champion for asking God to help me.  

I love to see God's hands in the simple things.  I know He loves us dearly, and He wants us to know that He is constantly stretching forth his hand willing to help us throughout the day; we just have to ask.

The Hope of Improvement

Tonight I went to church for the kids' scouts.  While I was there a woman with 6 kids said she has a really loud whistle, so her children have never heard her raise her voice in their lives.  That's amazing!!  I am so imperfect.  I stay calm and happy 95% of the time, but sometimes I just get so frustrated that I feel like by getting visibly upset is the only way I can get the immediate change I want from their behavior. Because it's not too often and because my children are so well behaved everywhere I go, I feel justified in my behavior.  But... I always feel bad about getting upset with them and apologize later.  I have apologized for so long for getting upset with them that I begin to think that I'll never change.  I begin to think that this is just the way I am, and it's working fine.  I'm a good mother.  I have a wonderful relationship with each of our children.  They never say or do mean or angry things to me.  Our children are smart, spiritual, kind, talented, confident, loving, and stable, so they must know that Mommy is just very imperfect at times. While this will always be true, my heart told me tonight that improvement is possible.

I went to write my miracle for today, and I could not think of anything to write. I decided to say my prayers with the hope that God would open my eyes to what He had done for me today.  All of a sudden a conversation I had with my mother tonight entered my heart.  She had told me about a friend of hers who charts goals for the year and each night assesses that goal and rates the progress on a number scale.  At that moment in my prayer, the thought came to me that maybe I can improve!!  Maybe I'm just going about it all wrong!  Maybe there's hope for me to let go of those things that give me guilt at the end of the day.  Maybe I can be a better mother.  Our children will mirror what they see, and I want the best for their lives.  Will I get discouraged?  Of course I will because it's hard to be so imperfect, but I feel empowered to visibly see progress.  I may even dig deeper to improve just to ensure I am progressing.

Where is the miracle?  I had to drop to my knees and pray to find it.  I had to humble myself to see the need for improvement, and I had to open my mind and heart to accept it.  I will try harder tomorrow to be who God intended me to be for our children.

History Lesson Miracle

Today's miracle is simple.  

I homeschool all the kids, and I decided that I had been slacking a bit on teaching history.  We spend so much time with scripture study, reading, writing, math, music, and sports that it's hard to find the time for one more subject.  I was tired and considering bagging the history lesson when I glanced to my side at the dinner table, and my attention was immediately drawn to a book about Black Heroes in History.  

I know I was led to this book because of the way we felt.  We read about Hariett Tubman, and our hearts were deeply touched by her strength, courage, belief in liberty, and faith in God.  We had really great conversations as a family about how we can be strong like her.  It's interesting how much more effective the learning is when there is not such a hurried atmosphere.  We had a peaceful time of learning, and those few moments of learning accompanied by the Spirit will stick with all of us much longer than if I would have stressed over the details of trying to be too perfect. 

The miracle is that God opened my heart to the way He would teach, and teaching as He would, makes all the difference in the world.  I pray I will be able to remember that feeling even when the stress begins to rise.  

Tyson's Audition & a Little Piece of Heaven

                                         

The Kalamazoo Civic Center has the 3rd best youth theater program in the nation, and my 9 year old Tyson was finally old enough to audition!! 

Today was the day!!  We rehearsed the whole script today, but we didn't have enough time to rehearse the singing with Abe, (my husband) who is the professional singer.  Most of the script looked like it was just speaking, so I figured he wouldn't even need to sing much at all. 

Well, the audition started, and all they worked on was singing and dancing!  They didn't even have them do any speaking or reading of lines.  I was so nervous for him, and I wanted him to keep his confidence.  He would have to sing this song as a solo without practicing with us one bit or ever even hearing the song until then.  

I stood in the hall where only he could see me, and I gave him all the thumbs up, smiles, and love I could.  Then, I prayed my heart out!!  Whether he got a part or not, I wanted him to feel like he had done his very best.  I prayed for him to leave the audition feeling as if he had really done something great.  I wanted him to feel a desire to try again even if he didn't make it.  Would all this be lost because I hadn't properly prepared him?  I prayed that he would feel confident enough to sing out even though it was completely new to him.  

It came to his turn, and my heart pounded; I had been praying so hard for my precious little boy.  

Oh my goodness!!  He sang great!!  He was right on key!  And the dancing... oh the dancing was adorable!!  He put his own little pizzaz into it.  The few mistakes he made on the dance did not matter one bit. His heart was there, and I know that God was with him making him feel like a champion.  I could see it in his eyes that he knew he was great.  Even the director of the civic looked over at me and mouthed the words, "Amazing!"  

Then I saw it.  

There have only been a few times in my life that I noticed an aura- kind of a light- around a person while watching them from afar.  I saw it when a missionary came home and spoke about his service to God; I saw it when a husband stood up and spoke about his wife who had recently passed.  I could see the light of God around them.  I knew there were extra angels surrounding these people at their important moments so strongly that my earthly eyes could see just a little extra light.

This same aura... this same piece of heaven... I saw around my son as he sang.  I knew that God was with him making him feel wonderful no matter what the directors would decide about his performance.

Knowing that our worth is great at the end of each day is a gift that I know God would like each of us to have.  God definitely cares about the big things, but he also dearly cares about the small things... like a 1st audition as a child. 

I thank God today that Tyson went to bed feeling like a champion-having felt God's love in his soul.