“Steve?”
“Yep. A friend of his from high school named Ben came to Sandy Cove about a month or so ago. He’s a pastor now, too, and he was telling Steve all about his beliefs and sharing scriptures with him. I think they mostly got into talking about the book of Revelation and end times or something. Anyway, Steve’s really into it now. He takes his Bible with him everywhere.”
“That’s great!” Kristin exclaimed. “So how about you? What do you think about God and the Bible?”
Michelle looked away. “I don’t know. That was why I came in here. I’m really confused.”
“Well, maybe we should pray,” Kristin suggested.
Michelle was surprised. “Okay,” she agreed. “You pray. I’ll listen.”
Settling down, side by side, on the pew, Kristin took one of Michelle’s hands into both of hers and began.
“Dear Lord, there is so much on our hearts and minds today. Thank you for meeting us here, in this little chapel. First we want to pray for Michelle’s dad. Lord, you know how he got to this place. Please help him find his way out.”
She paused for a moment then continued, “I pray that you would make yourself real to him, even now as he’s lying there in a coma. Be with him, God. Help him sense your presence. Reveal yourself to him in ways that he can receive and understand. I ask that you would use this time to draw him into your family, Lord. That today would be the day of salvation for him. And we ask that you would touch his body. Heal him, God. Bring him back to Michelle and her family.”
She squeezed Michelle’s hand then added, “And Lord, I pray for my friend, Michelle. She’s asking if you are real and if you understand. Please draw her close. Touch her spirit with your love and compassion. Open her eyes to the truth and help her to choose you above anything and everything else. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Michelle looked up and hugged Kristin. “Thank you. You are a special friend.”
Kristin smiled and brushed the hair from Michelle’s face. “God is real, ’Shell. He’s reaching out to you right now.”
Michelle just nodded. “What do I do, Kristin?”
“Why don’t you just let Him in?” she replied.
“But what about all the things I’ve been learning and studying?” Michelle added.
“Let Him help you sort through them. He’ll separate the truth from deception.”
“I guess you’re right,” she agreed.
“Ask Him. Give Him all your questions,” Kristin suggested confidently.
“Okay. I’ll try. I think I’ll just pray here by myself for a few minutes. How about if I meet you back at the ICU?” Michelle suggested.
“Okay. I’ll be there,” she promised.
“I won’t be long,” Michelle added. Kristin smiled and nodded. She got up and walked out of the little sanctuary.
Once she was alone, Michelle prayed. “Okay, God. It’s just you and me. It looks like you’ve got me surrounded by Christians. I really want to know if you are real. But I guess the only way is to give you a chance. Please help me. Help me know you. Help me understand what is happening with my dad and why you let it happen. If you really care, if you really understand, please give me some kind of sign. Anything. I’ll watch and listen.”
Again Michelle felt a warm peace come over her. It was as if she had surrendered something that never really belonged to her. She stood up, looked at the picture of Jesus on the altar, and smiled. As she exited, she noticed another picture—this one of a shepherd guarding his sheep. The shepherd from her dream.
When Michelle walked into the ICU she was immediately met by Kristin, who grabbed her hand and pulled her quickly toward John’s cubicle.
“He spoke, Michelle! Your dad just spoke!” she explained hurriedly.
“What? What did he say?”
“He just said ‘Jesus’. That’s all. Your grandpa was sitting there praying. When he stopped, your dad said ‘Jesus’.”
Michelle’s heart was racing. This was her sign. God really did hear her! She threw her arms around Kristin and started to cry tears of amazement and joy.
They hurried into the cubicle. The nurse was checking John’s vital signs and trying to get a response from him, but he was lying still, just as Michelle remembered seeing him an hour earlier.
Her grandfather walked over and put his arm around her. “Let’s go find your mother,” he said as he guided her out of the small room.
“I’ll stay here with your father,” Kristin said.
Michelle nodded. “Thanks, friend.”
As they left to find the rest of the family, Grandpa Phil told her, “I’ve been thinking about what the doctor said, Michelle, and I’ve been praying for God to give me wisdom about how to counsel your mother on this ‘no code’ decision. I guess Kristin told you what happened. Your dad responded to my prayer, Mimi. We can’t give up on him.”
Michelle nodded in agreement. “What do you think it means, Grandpa? Do you think he understood your prayer?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. Maybe he was seeing Jesus. I can only guess. But I do believe it’s a sign for us. A way that God is telling us not to give up.”
“Oh, Grandpa, I’m so glad we have you here!” Michelle said as she beamed at her grandfather.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he replied tenderly. He cocked his head and seemed to study her as if he noticed something different.
“Grandpa,” she began
“What is it, Michelle?”
“I’m going to try your way. You know—Jesus.”
He beamed at her and drew her into a long embrace, then pulled back and looked into her eyes. “He won’t let you down, sweetheart.”
A few moments later, they found Joan, Sheila, Tim, and Steve walking back toward the ICU from the coffee shop. As Phil relayed the incident with John and his interpretation, Michelle drifted off into her own thoughts.
Thank you, God. Thank you for answering my prayer and for giving me my sign. Help me learn to know you more, she asked silently.
“So what do you think, Michelle?” Her mother’s voice brought her back to the discussion.
“Well, I think Grandpa’s right. It’s a sign from God, Mom. Forget what the doctor says.”
“I agree,” said Tim. “It’s way too soon to give up on Dad.”
Steve nodded, taking Michelle into his arms. She could hardly wait to tell him about her time alone with God. Now they could learn about the Bible together.
As the family huddled together in an embrace, Michelle felt a sense of solidarity and peace that was ignited by hope. Her father faced a formidable foe, but many people were battling on his behalf, and she was not about to see him lose this fight. As she glanced at her grandparents, she saw them look at each other simultaneously and smile, then look up toward heaven. That same feeling of peace she had found in the chapel wrapped around her weary body again.
Turning to look up into Steve’s eyes, Michelle felt a tear roll down her cheek.
“It’s going to be okay, babe,” he said softly, brushing away her tear with his thumb.
She nodded. “We’ve got to talk,” she said softly. Turning to her family, she added, “We’ll be back.” Then she took Steve by the hand and led him to the chapel.
“Is this where you’ve been hiding out?” Steve asked as he looked around the peaceful sanctuary.
Michelle nodded. “Steve,” she began.
“Yes?”
“Something happened in here a little while ago.” She sank down into the pew and pulled him down beside her.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but it was like I had an encounter with God.”
“Want to tell me about it?” he asked as he searched her eyes.
“He was here, Steve.”
“Who?”
“God. Jesus.” Michelle gazed down at their intertwined hands and then looked back up into his eyes. Steve’s expression was so tender that her defenses completely melted.
“I can’t put it into words, but it was almost like He was talking to me. Not like I could hear a voice or anything. Just talking to my mind.”
“To your heart.”
“Yeah.”
He smiled and nodded. Letting out a sigh, he wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve been praying He would make Himself real to you.”
Michelle nestled into his chest. “Guess He answered your prayer,” she said in a near whisper.
He gave her a squeeze. “That’s great, honey. He was here right when you needed Him most.”
She nodded. “It’s so weird, Steve. I feel like a different person now. Like a fresh start.”
He smiled. “That’s just what it is, Michelle.”
She returned his smile and continued. “The past few months have been so confusing for me. All the stuff with the dreams and the tarot cards—I thought I had it all figured out. The New Age things Starla and Trevor were teaching me seemed so interesting… so empowering.”
She looked down at the floor and shook her head. “Then this thing with Dad. . . well, it made me feel so helpless and confused all over again.” She paused, and then continued. “All the stuff Trevor faxed to me seemed so empty. I knew it wasn’t the answer I was looking for. It also made me think about how you and I have been going on different paths. It bothered me.”
“I know what you mean,” he replied.
“Steve?”
“Yeah?”
“I was thinking that maybe I could start joining you in your Bible studies with Ben. I think it would be good for me. Good for us.”
“Sounds good to me,” Steve agreed.
A silence settled between them for a few moments. Michelle glanced up into Steve’s eyes and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
“I was just remembering something Ben said the other day when we were talking about your dad.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that God has a way of bringing diamonds out of ashes.”
“Sounds like something Grandpa would say.” She smiled, her spirit feeling lighter.
“I really believe that God is going to work things out for your dad.”
“I know what you mean. Even though I know that logically I should be worried, I keep getting this sense of peace and assurance that comes over me like some kind of promise from God.”
Steve smiled and nodded again. “I love you, babe,” he said as he pulled her into his arms.
“I love you too.”
After they kissed, Michelle said, “We should probably get back to the ICU.”
They stood up and walked out of the hospital chapel hand in hand.
As they entered the ICU cubicle a few minutes later, they found Tim sitting close to the bed with both of his hands holding onto his father’s hand and his forehead resting on them.
Michelle put her hand on Tim’s shoulder.
“Sorry. I didn’t hear you come in,” he said as he leaned back into his chair.
“How’s he doing?” she asked softly.
“The same. He’s sleeping, I think.”
“Where’s Mom?”
“She took Kristin over to the hotel. Kristin’s staying with her in our room tonight. I’m going to stay here with Dad.”
“Did Grandpa and Grandma go back over there, too?”
“Yep. Everyone was pretty exhausted.”
“Do you want me to stay here with you?” Michelle offered.
“No. I’ll be fine.”
John stirred slightly, and Tim reached out and took his hand again. “It’s okay, Dad. I’m still here.”
Michelle’s heart was moved as she saw the tenderness in Tim’s eyes. He suddenly seemed so grown up, so much more mature.
“We’ll see you in the morning, Tim. Call my cell if you need anything,” Michelle added.
“Okay. Get some rest, ’Shell.”
“I’ll try. Thanks,” Michelle replied as she reached out and squeezed her brother’s shoulder again.
She and Steve walked out of the cubicle and down the hall, Michelle leaning against him drawing warmth and strength from his body. What a day. She was overcome with exhaustion and yet her heart felt light, hopeful. Thank you, God. Thank you for all you’re doing here for me and my family.
Then she thought about the future, wondering what would happen to her father. Would he ever fully recover? And what about her mom? How would she manage in the weeks and months ahead? A heaviness tried to invade her spirit again. It seemed like there was just too much to deal with.
As they walked into their hotel room, Steve turned and hugged her tightly. “Michelle,” he said softly, his voice shaking slightly.
“Yeah?” Michelle leaned back and looked into his eyes.
“Let’s pray together before we go to bed.”
“I’d like that,” she replied with a smile.
As they sat on the edge of the bed, Steve took her hand in his. They bowed their heads, and as Steve began to pray, Michelle felt that same feeling of peace and hope. After months of wrestling with nightmares, she had a feeling she would sleep better tonight than she had for a long time.
Listening to her husband’s voice as he spoke to God, and feeling God’s presence in her heart and mind, was a moment she did not want to forget. It felt so perfect and right, like something out of a dream, a very good dream.
In a quiet place in the depth of her spirit, Michelle heard wonderful words of hope. My peace I give unto you.
“Amen,” Steve said, squeezing her hand again.
“Amen,” she replied.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Dear Readers,
It’s been a long journey bringing Michelle’s story to life, but I can still vividly remember the day when God shared with me that He was going to redeem the years the locusts ate away. Having spent the first thirty years of my life going my own way on my own strength and wisdom, I wished I could go back and relive them all with Him. Thankfully, as someone once said, nothing is wasted in God’s economy. He had a plan for those years of searching, struggling, and dabbling in deception.
As a young girl in junior high school, I first became intrigued by the supernatural. Ouija boards, séances, and tarot cards became a part of every slumber party with my friends. Over time, I began taking my tarot cards to school and would sit on the field and “read the cards” for anyone who had a question or concern. Soon I had people I didn’t even know stopping me in the halls to tell me that what I had shared from the cards came to pass in their lives. It was a heady feeling of power to know that I could somehow use those cards to see into the future.
I continued to pursue parapsychology and dabble in what I now know is the occult. I lived my life independent from God, doing what was right in my own eyes and not concerning myself with Him. I became involved in New Age thought and beliefs through some counseling I had for an anxiety disorder in my early 20’s. My therapist, a sweet and caring woman who had traded her relationship with Christ for the “broader” perspective of the New Age movement, taught me to seek my Higher Self, the inner guide who would lead me to all truth.
I began to formulate my own belief system based on what worked best with the type of lifestyle I chose to live. Snippets of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity along with positive thinking and mindless meditation became my new spirituality. I looked down on Bible-believing Christians as narrow-minded and lacking enlightenment.
All of that ended in 1984, when my father chose the desperate act of suicide to escape a financial situation he feared would ruin his life. Rocked to the core of my being, I had nowhere solid to run, no God bigger than myself to help me process this horrific event. Suddenly all my “open-minded” beliefs dissolved like cotton candy. They had no substance to sustain me, no absolute wisdom to offer.
Thankfully, my sister suggested we turn to the Bible and find out what it really taught. We began attending a women’s Bible study in the book of Luke, and the truth of God opened our eyes and changed our lives forever.
Like Michelle’s father, my dad did not die immediately after his self-inflicted bullet wound. While he was lying naked under a sheet in the ICU, attached to a multitude of monitors, we were being told about the possible long-term residual effects of his brain trauma should he survive the ordeal. Partial or complete blindness and paralysis were among those possibilities.
Before my father passed away 36 hours later, my brother, my sister, and I were able to tell him how much we loved him. Tears streamed down his cheeks in response, and I can only imagine the regret and pain he must have felt as he heard those words. I believe that if he could speak today, he would tell anyone facing their own desperate situations that suicide is never the answer.
For those of you who have based your beliefs on a god of your own making, I urge you to reconsider the platform of your life. There is a God who has known you since the beginning of time. He loves you with a love you will find nowhere else. And He will see you through any circumstance that crosses your path in this life before taking you safely home to live with Him for eternity. A relationship with Him is only a prayer away. Ask Him to make Himself real to you, and then start studying His Word. Give Jesus’ life and teachings serious consideration and decide whether or not you want to become a part of the family of God. He is ready to welcome you with open arms.
I hope you will continue your journey with Michelle in Through the Tears and Into Magnolia the second and third books in the Sandy Cove Series.
Until then, may God’s truth guide you.
With love,
Rosemary Hines
P.S. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to email me at [email protected]. You can also visit me on the web at www.RosemaryHines.com and keep up with my blogs and news on my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/RosemaryHinesAuthorPage
Out of a Dream (Sandy Cove Series Book 1) Page 24
