"You have five kids?" He asked.
"Well, actually six. There's one in the girls' restroom."
"I have a daughter about the same age as that one," pointing to Tilley.
I began to feel a little creepy. Maybe he wanted money or something. But I was wrong. We ended up talking for several minutes with kids buzzing around us. Good thing the posters were nearby to keep some of them occupied.
He told me about his daughter, Ellen, who had been involved in a car crash. Ellen was admitted to
Children's Hospital for her injuries. She was hurt pretty badly, with loss of motor skills and possible brain injury. We talked about God and what He might be saying to Ellen's dad through this tragedy.
We had never met her, but we couldn't get this little girl and her family off our minds. We wanted to offer her some love and prayers. Jill and I went to visit Ellen in the hospital. She was at physical therapy, but her aunt insisted on taking us to see her. She was not having a good day when we looked in on the PT session. So we didn't interrupt. We left the hospital without ever meeting Ellen.
She reminded me so much of my niece, Falon. Falon had been hit by a car at the age of three. The accident caused damage to her head and neck. She wore a halo for a long time. Life became a battle for Falon. She ended it with a handful of pills.
Some time went by. Maybe a year. I don't know.
Then there was a service call at an elementary school in Kingston. I got to the school and located the fax machine in the office, just in time for "Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance." After the pledge, the announcer read off the day's birthdays with instructions for the students to report to the office for birthday gifts. As the names were called and I returned my focus to the fax machine. Then I heard Ellen's name.
How many girls could there be with that name?
Will she be in a wheel chair? Or maybe on crutches?
As the birthday kids filed into the office, I kept a curious eye on them. Then Ellen came walking through the office. Smiling and almost skipping. Perfectly normal and healthy. I was so excited, I blurted out, "Do y'all know who that is?! Do you know what happened to her?!"
I was able to pull aside one of the office staff who said she indeed was aware of Ellen's previous condition. She told me how the teachers, staff and students of the school had prayed for Ellen. And God answered by healing her.
I still don't know why God heals some people but not others. He healed my Jilly in an instant, after years of praying. Some people say you need faith. Well, I have faith, but that doesn't guarantee everybody I pray for will get a miracle.
But some people will get a miracle.
God Bless,
Dadofmykids.
PS. This is post # 2 of 40. Learn more
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