Christian Inspirational Stories
[Christian Inspiration] [ Contents ]
A Precious Gift Arrives
By Kerry Pipes
What a magical moment when God and His angels first
brought Ella Johanna into our lives! How could you resist those beautiful
big brown eyes or her tender face and huge, warm smile?
Her smile lights up a room and every person in it. She is a ray of
sunshine and hope, and she traveled over 20 hours by airplane from halfway
around the world to brighten our lives. For my wife and I, she is the most
precious bundle of joy we have ever received.
"How can a person experience this much excitement, joy, pleasure,
happiness, genuine fulfillment and peace?" I asked myself. "Is
this what every parent feels? Surely no one's experience of becoming a
parent could come close to mine," I thought. "After all Ella is
the most perfect little girl ever created by God and she has been specially
placed in our family."
Last night after we brought Ella home, I could not sleep. I felt like I
used to feel as a small boy trying to sleep on Christmas Eve while eagerly
anticipating all the gifts to be opened on Christmas morning. I realized
that Ella had already become better than all of those anxiously anticipated
Christmas gifts combined. She is, to me, the incomparable Christmas gift
that I will receive each year for the rest of my life. My desire is to
cherish each memory with Ella and to create more of them every day of her life.
God has truly blessed our family and I praise Him from the bottom of my heart!
(Kerry and Beth Pipes live in Fort Worth, TX, and have adopted two daughters
from India through Dillon International. Kerry wrote this in honor of his
first daughter's homecoming in August 1997.)
[Christian Inspiration] [ Contents ]
I was an only child. For some reason it never occurred to me that I should have brothers and sisters, or did I ever miss not having them. I was a happy child never feeling deprived of anything. Since I was the center of my parent’s devotion I was a contented child, happy with my life.
My earliest memories are of being kissed and hugged. I remember my Mama’s soft, sweet fragrance. She smelled like "cashmere bouquet", the talcum powder she liked to use.
Perhaps somewhere in the back of my young mind I understood I was an adopted child and as such would not have brothers and sisters. When I was about 6 years old my friend Patsy informed me one day that I was adopted. I began to cry and my friend Billy T. G. rode me home on his bicycle. My mother took me on her lap and held me as I cried, while telling her what had happened.
She asked if it would make any difference to me and I said, "uh huh". In other word, yes it would. She didn’t respond but just continued to hold me and hug me, so I knew is was true. She never confirmed or denied it and my father never spoke of it to his dying day.
As far as they were concerned I was theirs and later my mother would tell me she couldn’t believe I didn’t actually come out of her body. I was 10 days old when my mama and daddy got me.
A Later Revelation
One day, after I had married and had a family of my own, I was at my kitchen door getting ready to go somewhere. All at once I paused and I said, "Lord, I just want to thank you for all you’ve given to me. I thank you for my adoption. I thank you that you had a home waiting for me and parents waiting for me before I was ever even conceived.
(My parents had applied for me a year before they got me.)
All of a sudden the Lord spoke to my heart. It was almost audible. The Lord said, "I had a home waiting for you 2,0000 years ago." I said, "Lord, that’s right. I’ve been adopted twice. Thank you, Lord, for my two adoptions – one into my earthly home and family and one into your family as your child. I thank you, my Father, for your goodness and kindness and your mercy.
Patricia Louise Carberry
[Christian Inspiration ] [ Contents ]
My wife and I have four lovely daughters. Each has married. Together they have blessed us with nine beautiful grandchildren ages 3 to 16. Each of the grandchildren are very special in our lives. We had not realized how God could make it work that way, but He does.
In 1996 all was well. One of our granddaughters, Cara, was enjoying basketball, swimming, choir, cheerleading and anything else she could find to get involved in. She was nine. She has a sister, Allison, who was ten and in November of that year God gave her a brother. She and her family were involved faithfully in church.
However, in January , 1997, Mom, Lori, and Cara were watching the St. Jude's Marathon for the fight against Leukemia. Cara had not been feeling well, but some thought it might be the flu or something else. After the program ended, Lori decided that she must take Cara in for blood tests the next morning.
It was not what they wanted to hear. At nine years old Cara was told that she had Leukemia and they must go immediately to Riley Children's Hospital. They checked her in and additional tests confirmed what her doctor had thought.
It was that day in January that changed Cara's life and that of her entire family.
The parents and grandparents met with the doctors to hear what none of us had ever thought we would hear...Cara has Leukemia, she must go through extensive and thorough treatment, it will not be easy, and her chances were fair. The doctors said they would go for the cure but could not promise it.
Shock was a part of each life touching Cara's life. Was it a dream? Her mother was struggling with the news. Each of us felt it all to be unreal.
I struggled with the grief, obviously not knowing what to expect. It was then that I called our friends, John and Rita, in Florida. Through the tears, I tried to explain to them what was happening. They reminded me that our God remains in control and He knew what was happening in Cara's life. They prayed on the spot with me asking God for healing in Cara's life.
Not only did they begin praying immediately, they wrote their friends on the internet and asked them to pray with them for Cara. Rita placed Cara's name on the International Prayer Network.. I wrote several churches and asked them to pray for Cara and family. In each instance, the response was immediate and positive. "Keep us advised and we will continue to pray."
People I did not know began writing us words of encouragement and assurances of prayerful support. Cara was showered with cards and letters from around the U.S., from people she did not know. One dear lady named Kathy, not only wrote, but called Cara and her Mom, prayed with them on the phone, wrote letters of encouragement and ultimately traveled to Cara's home half way across the U.S. to meet her and her family.
The Chemotherapy had begun. Cara lost her hair, tried the wig and gave it up, encountered the weight problem and had times of severe sickness throughout the times of treatment, but she had spunk and determination. After treatment she would ask to go shopping or go to eat out. After treatment, her counts went down and soon she was declared cancer free! We were thrilled! God was at work in her life. She had a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face! She was ready to get back in basketball and cheerleading and swimming and all the rest. She was elected president of her class and welcomed back with open arms in school.
People continued to pray. Dad felt the need to raise monies for the Leukemia Foundation and Riley Children's Hospital, so he created the Cara Thomas Links Against Leukemia Golf Tournament. It was a success! People rallied and raised more than $14,000. Each year since, the tournament has been held with wonderful financial success for Riley's and the Leukemia Foundation.
Soon after the Golf Tournament, it was time to go in for the regular tests. Once again they were hearing the unexpected. Cara and her parents were told that the cancer had returned in her body. his time, they would have to begin Chemotherapy again, along with radiation and ultimately, a transplant. Again, we were on the emotional roller coaster. Her chances of survival were reduced to 33% or less. Cara was angry! She claimed she felt good and the doctors were wrong. Mom and Dad were in shock.
The prayer warriors, now numbering in the hundreds throughout the U.S. were contacted and they again began standing before the throne of God. Cara was prepared for the transplant and it occurred December 1998. She had to stay in isolation because she no longer had an immune system. The hospital stay was lengthened. Recovery was slow. The sickness was rough at times, but people continually prayed and sent words of encouragement . We could see God at work in her life. Doctors were sometimes shocked at the progress...uncommon, they would say.
Soon Cara was advised that she could return home...a place she had not been for months. The house was cleaned, the walls were painted, and Cara would remain home in isolation with her family until her immune system began to work.
Throughout this trial, we have seen our God at work. Mom and Dad's faith was renewed, realizing that prayer is powerful and people really care, even though they may not know you.
As Christian's, we all "know" that prayer is powerful, but when you have to lay your faith on the alter, it is much different. Faith is great when all is going well. But faith must begin to work when things are not as we think they ought to be.
We do not understand why one of our grandchildren would have such a horrible experience, but we can say that God has been at work in her beautiful little life. She is now twelve years old. She missed out on years 10 and 11, but she's making up for it with her enthusiasm and desire to live to the fullest.
Yes, we continue to pray for Cara. The road to complete recovery is long. She is cancer free. The doctor's are pleased and excited with her progress. But the road to be traveled is before us. God is leading the way and we trust Him daily.
Through this experience, we were made to realize anew that our lives are in His hands. But He loves us and desires fellowship with us...all the time...not just when things go wrong. Why not enjoy His fellowship on a regular basis...or are you like I have been at times, just too busy to stop to have a talk with my Father. It can really be enjoyable...and when it is done on a regular basis, you know with whom you are speaking when things get rough in life.
God bless you and draw you near.
Submitted by Carl Stephan
[Christian Inspiration ] [ Contents ]
From
the Mouths of Children
"Tell Jesus I love Him"
A grandmother in St Louis recently went to dinner at a restaurant with her son and two grandchildren. They were sitting at the table waiting for their food when the 5 year old asked, "Gramma, what was your Mom like?
"She was a very wonderful lady, Clare", said Grandmother. "Your Daddy knew her, too."
The 5 year old looked at her Dad and said, "Did you, Dad?."
Dad responded, "Yes I did, Clare. She was very nice.""
"What was your Dad like, Gramma?" said Clare.
Grandmother responded, "He was nice, too, but I didn't know him very well because he died when I was only ten years old."
Clare's Dad chimed in, "Isn't it great that Gramma's Mom did such a good job taking care of Gramma even though her Dad wasn't with them?" Clare didn't say anymore right then.
The next day, Sunday, Clare was just talking with her Dad. She said, "Dad, will people be able to see each other in heaven?"
Her Dad said, "Sure they will, Clare".
Then she asked, "Dad, I guess, since you're older than me, you'll die first."
Her Dad responded, "Yes, I guess I will, Clare."
"She said, "I'll sure miss you, Dad." By this time Dad is having trouble keeping the tears from his eyes. After a moment of silence, Clare said, "Dad, will you please tell Jesus I love Him when you get there?"
Dad responded with tears flowing down his face, "Sure, Clare, I'll be glad to tell Him."
A wonderful story of a child's search for the meaning and blessing of death.
Submitted by Carl Stephan