Thursday, August 19, 2010

Thankful Thursday








Today is Thankful Thursday, we all have so much to be thankful for, and if we were just saved and not anothr blessings as long as we lived, we would be blessed over and above what we deserve. God is so good, and he shows us things in others life that bless us, and that can show his magnificient power. This story is like that, it really touched my heart, and I want to share it with you, God bless you and do have a wonderful day, praising and worshipping our blessed lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 65:24 "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."


This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa...
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).


We also had no special feeding facilities.


Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle.


She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.


"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."


The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.


During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."


While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"


As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen." I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home.


Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!


Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.


By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.


Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.


From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the...could it really be?


I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.


Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!


Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"


That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."


"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24)


Hugs ♥ Blessings Photobucket

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such an uplifting story. And the most beautiful thing is that these kinds of blessings happen each and every day!

Melissa Miller said...

Very nice story Barbara. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Blessings to you and yours. Warmly, ~Melissa :)

Deborah said...

I've read this story before but enjoyed it just as much reading it again. Sometimes we forget that God isn't bound by time as we are...He knows all our needs before we ever pray, and he knows our prayer long before we pray it! Such an important thing to remember when we're tempted to think...oh, it's too late to pray for that, or God won't answer a prayer like that!
Oh to have the faith of a child!

Theresa said...

What a beautiful story, Barbara. Yes, God does know what we need before we even ask. What an Awesome God we serve!

Kathy in KY said...

What a wonderful story, Barbara. I have one of my own - yesterday I went to a quick stop store not far from my apartment. When I got out and went back to my truck, it wouldn't start. I called a tow truck and had it towed to my mechanic's shop where it is getting worked on today. the reason I see this as a blessing is that I just bought the truck this Monday and drove it home from a town about an hour from Lexington where I live. Had the battery died in any other place, I would've been stranded. But it quit in town so I could call a tow truck, and have them take it to my mechanic. And it was on a Wed instead of a Fri afternoon, so it could be worked on, and my mechanic gave me a loaner car to get home and use today. And the matter with the battery is probably no more than the terminals and wire attachments need to be cleaned good. And I am headed to south-central KY this Sat to find out about a place to live in the country, and the truck should be in top running order for that trip. Yes, it's a little of a headache, but also could've been much worse. Yes, Zuzu is right, these kinds of blessings happen each and every day. thank you for your story - it is very uplifting. Take care my southern-sister, from KY.

Peggy said...

What a beautiful story. I sometimes forget that God answers prayers even before we ask. Thank you for the reminder. Have a blessed day!

Sharon said...

What beautiful story. We do have an Awesome GOD. This is just a daily reminder for us.Thanks for sharing it.

carole johnston said...

Hi Barb,I remember being told to be specific in prayer,and look what happens when people are! just lovely.Have a beautiful blessed day .Carole xx

Anonymous said...

Thank you Barbara for sharing this uplifting story. We serve an awesome God!

Andrea said...

Hi, Barbara! You have blessed me this day! Thank you for sharing your heart and this beautiful story.

May God pour an abundance of love and mercy in your live and ministry.

Andrea

Karen said...

Oh, tears...so precious, the faith of a child....

Rocky Mountain Homemaker said...

What a fantastic story!

JTR said...

Barbara - I see a number of ppl posting "thankful thursdays" - how do I get hooked up with, what is it, a group of bloggers who all post on a topic? Can you email me at water05201@hotmail.com?