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
When I went to Basic Training or Boot Camp, for the Air Force, I didn’t think I’d make it.
I was mentally unprepared and out of shape due to my weight. So in that moment of weakness, I prayed.
I prayed every night and went to church every Sunday. I told God my secrets and insecurities. I gave Him everything. The last week, we had a final PT test that determined if you graduated.
Because of God I passed and got to see my family. Because of Him, I am making it. Prayer and action works!
