God’s Protection: A Childhood Tale of Danger and Joy
Posts tagged ‘inspirational stories’
How Faith and Determination Helped My Family Survive
When I was growing up, we never had much money. My parent’s divorce was finalized on my 4th birthday in September. Then in Oct of the same year, my dad was involved in an 18-wheeler accident. A car had
drove under the flatbed trailer. His neck was broken. He was out of work with nowhere to go. My mom let him come back and sleep on the couch. In December, my mom fell and broke her back. She was in the hospital through April of the next year. Now neither had a job.
The house note was only $200 a month, but it might as well have been a million. Neither one of my parents could work. My dad tried to work hauling pup wood, but with having to take care of me with no help, it was hard. We didn’t have any family to come help. We could not afford childcare.
Somehow even during this time, we paid the house note, had lights, and ate.
At the end of April, my mom was able to come home from the hospital. However, they had waited too long to do the surgery. Her sciatic nerve in her left leg was dead. The doctors said that she would never walk again, but she was determined to prove them wrong. An older gentleman in our town was kind enough to give her two walking sticks that he had made from wood. She practiced everyday dragging her leg. Over the years she did improve.
Because my dad was now well, and my mom was out of the hospital, my dad went back to work as a long-haul truck driver. He now paid child support of $175.
So, we had a $175 and a few food stamps coming in every month. Unfortunately, the house note was still $200. My mom was not able to work. So, she prayed. It took another year the approval for her disability SSI to come. During this year, we paid the house note, had food, paid the light bill, and even had a phone.
My mom would pray. After she prayed, money would appear near the car that was in the driveway. We lived out in the country on seven acres of land. We do not know how the money got there, but it was always enough.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25
Lessons from My Great-Grandpa Berry’s Life
Marvin’s Miracle: Faith, Support, and Transformation
I recently heard the story of a man that I believe is a wonderful testimony to the grace and love of God. The man has now gone to be with the Lord. Therefore, I am going to tell his story for him.
Marvin was a man of 6’4”. He was addicted to cocaine and alcohol. His wife, Annabel, was a Christian. She went to Pastor Roy’s Church. Pastor Roy suggested that she leave her husband because he was abusive to her and the children. She said, “God is going to change him.” Pastor Roy said, “Yeah to the grave. This man is down to 90 pounds. He is nothing but skin and bones.” Annabel just kept praying.
One night not long after this conversation, Marvin came to church. He was high on cocaine. However, the power of God still got to him. He went straight to the alter and fell down. He did not get up until he had been filled with the Holy Ghost. He stayed at the church for 3 days and 3 nights. He prayed and was prayed for during his withdrawals from cocaine and alcohol. Pastor Roy and Annabel stayed with him. They held him and offered support. They also brought him food and water.
After he went home, he was a changed man. He stopped being abusive to his wife and daughters. He started holding down a good job. However, there were still times that he felt cravings for cocaine and or alcohol. Every time this happened, he went and lived at the church until it passed. Pastor Roy and Annabel always went with him to support him. Over time, the cravings got less and less, but the cravings never fully went away. However, with the help and grace of God, Marvin never gave in to the cravings. About 30 years after his 1st trip to the alter, the Lord called him home. Annabel stayed by his side the whole time.
My Journey to Understanding Heaven as a Child
When I was about 5 or 6 years old, I begin to learn about Jesus, heaven, and hell. I was told that Jesus loves me so much that he came and died on the cross for my sins. I learned that 3 days later he came back to life. Later he went to heaven to create a home for everyone who believes in him. In heaven, there is no sickness, pain, or suffering. Someone said that hell is 10 times hotter than Georgia is in the summertime. I had been to Atlanta, Georgia in December and it was hot then. I did not want to go anywhere that it was hotter than Atlanta, Georgia.
During this time, I was also very sickly. There were many foods that I could not eat and playing with animals caused me to have an asthma attack. Someone said that there were animals in heaven. Therefore, I got it in my head that I wanted to go to heaven. You have to understand, I was tired of always being sick. I wanted to play with animals. The preacher had said no one is sick in heaven. Therefore, I got a few toys together. Then I sat in a corner and told Jesus that I was ready to go to Heaven. I did this every day for about 2 weeks. My mom thought that I was playing either school or church. She did not know that I was waiting on Jesus to come get me and take me to heaven.
Finally, one night I had a dream. In the dream, Jesus came and took me to heaven. It was wonderful. I was able to eat all of the food that grew in the garden. This included tomatoes and butter bean. Both of which normally made me sick. I was also able to drink milk from a cow. In addition, I was able to play with the dogs, cats, lambs, horses, and goats. I had so much fun. Just being able to run in open fields without having an asthma attack gave me great joy.
Then Jesus talked to me. He explained that I still needed to live on earth. However, things would get better. He said that I could come back to heaven to live one day.
With time I outgrew my childhood food allergies. Now I am able to eat whatever I want to. In addition, I no longer have the server asthma that I had as a child. Yes, it was several years before I outgrew these problems, but Jesus was right things did get better.
As a child, I did not have perfect understanding of the Bible, but I understood enough to know that heaven is where I wanted to go. Hell is too hot, but heaven is perfect. I also understood that I had to talk to Jesus in order to go to heaven. Therefore, I persistently ask Jesus to take me to heaven. He answered my prayer in the best possible way. I know that whatever you may want or need, if you persistently ask Jesus, he will answer. The answer may be wait, yes, or no.
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