United States of America
Here is one story of gratitude out of many gratitudes that I have in my life.
Both of my kids live out of town. This is my statement thanking God for how He has taken care of them when they left the nest, our home.
My son went to college on a baseball scholarship. He moved to Pennsylvania. I prayed that God provide a family who would love him, nurture him, and watch over him. A coach from Georgia Point University saw him and asked him to come play for his school. Jon ended up moving to GA. It was in this college that he met his wife and his new family. Today, they still love him and call him son-in-law. This Rubin family is the answer to my prayer. Thanks to the influence of this family, Jon became a college pastor, and today he serves his church in this capacity together with his family; his wife Rebecca, two children: Arlo and Luca, also baby to be, my granddaughter, in February. Praise God! So thankful God responded in a permanent way.
In 2020, my daughter, Elaine moved to Virginia. I prayed that she would find direction and a path to stability outside our home. After much prayer and supplication, God allowed her in 2021 to meet a young man, named Enrique. The minute she told me, “Mom, I met someone.” I started praying that this relationship becomes formalized then that they would get officially married. In 2022, he proposed with a formal ring and they also got married. Today they have moved to Washington state. Being that he is in the Army, they have relocated to Washington.
I am thankful to God that when my kids left our home, God took care of them. Today they are both happily married. Though they live outside of Florida where I reside, I have witnessed God’s tender care and mercy providing them with stable relationships and mapping out a plan that seemed impossible to me. All things are possible with God. If He took care of my kids, God will take care of you.
Elenor Quinones
United States of America
It was about 14 to 16 years ago, I was a single person living in San Diego. My two daughters were grown, one in Alabama and one in Chicago, so of course, my grandchildren were with them. I had good friends but felt a deep sense of loneliness because I missed my family.
My church at the time was a good starter church, but not a lot of thorough biblical teaching. My job was good, but at the end of the day, loneliness would set in again and again. I began to wonder what my purpose was away from my loved ones. Many times I was content and kept busy with events after work. For many years that was enough…for a while. Depression was setting in until one day I reached out to God and told Him that I can’t do this anymore. I need my family! It’s interesting to me how often I forget to ASK God and try to figure everything out for myself. You can probably guess that God stepped in and answered my prayer. Why do I find this so astonishing that our perfect Heavenly Father will go to any length to bless us with more than we could ask?
About two days later I received a phone call from my oldest daughter saying that they were moving to San Diego! Did I hear that right? My daughter and her husband who never cared for San Diego and thought it was too conservative were now coming here. Graduating from college in San Francisco, her views were fairly liberal to say the least!
Well, those years were some of the best years of my life. My first grandchild, Ava, was about four years old. The times were precious and magical as we played and imagined the most wonderful thoughts and the most fun make-believe games. Those years together were priceless, and God blessed us richly! He answered my prayers in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It is so true that He has better plans for us than we could ever expect.
So, again I wonder, why am I so surprised when God answers me in the most perfect way? Maybe I’ll never understand that as long as I live on this side of Heaven but I’m so thankful that He is my Perfect Heavenly Father and also thankful that His ways are not our ways!
United States of America
In 2011 my mother had a stroke that put her in the hospital. This particular stroke was a bad one and affected the left side of her body. She was paralyzed on that side for about 24 hours. The doctors revealed that she had multiple strokes before this one, as was shown by the blank spots in the brain scan. It looked like a rickety road. The doctor explained that all the dark spots were signs of brain damage. We all wondered how she could still be functioning, moving, walking, talking, and existing. The doctor said it was a miracle and he couldn’t explain it. There was a block to her stem cell, so they put in a stent so her blood could flow to her brain properly.
I stayed at the hospital with her from the time she got there until she left. When she recovered from the surgery she began physical therapy to train her left side how to move again. The doctors said she wouldn’t walk, but she proved them wrong. She refused the wheelchair and was determined to walk and she did. She worked hard and never gave in to her fears. She walked out of the hospital and went on to have a good ten years. After all the strokes.
It seemed like her recovery and living a full life with the function of her limbs wasn’t possible. But God made it possible. My mother loved God, she always prayed, and her favorite scripture was Philippians 4:8. She kept her mind on God and good things and never wavered in her faith and love of God. She was an example of faith in action.
Shamar
United States of America
My mom was a lioness, fierce, explosive, yet fair, kind, and fun.
Over the years of her walking with God, learning from Him, growing in Him, I saw her change – become more patient, self-restrained, and humble.
Only God can change the person.
And then there’s me…
He knew me, wanting my life to be all in for Him.
Yet life got in the way – my inherited weaknesses, I didn’t even see, overtook me in my search for love and to be seen.
I left Him, He relentlessly pursued me and won me back.
The healing process began and finally, I now live on purpose, relentless in return for Him!
A miracle!
Emra
United States of America
“My heart is heavy and overwhelmed, Lord. Will you reveal what is going on within so this turmoil and heaviness will lift?”
As I spoke this out to the Lord one day, while hiking in a forest alone, Jesus showed up and walked alongside me. The next thing I knew, I was having a vision where the Lord brought an enormous amount of healing, truth, and hope. You see, I was worried about one of my prodigal children spending eternity apart from God, but I didn’t know I was afraid because I was too busy physically, emotionally, and mentally. The vision consisted of hundreds of prodigal children still attached to Jesus. I saw what looked like umbilical cords from each child connected to Jesus. The Lord said, “Your prodigal is still attached to me! She may hate, resist, sin, and turn away from me, but she is still connected to me. I will never turn away from her or cut myself off from her. I will never stop pursuing her. Many people believe their prodigal is going to hell, but I tell you the truth, they are still tethered to me!”
What hope and peace filled my soul. The worry left. Trust fueled me.
Pam Bacani
