Readers Share Their Stories of God's Goodness and Grace

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Miraculous gifts

More Blessed to Give … Than to Sell

by Andrea LeRoy

While preparing for a garage sale, I noticed our infant car seat was missing the lock buckle necessary to secure the child.  Without the lock, the seat was basically worthless and certainly not going to sell.  I had all the paperwork on the car seat, so I intended to call the manufacturer to order a new lock. In the meantime, I searched every nook and cranny of our house, hoping it would turn up.

On the weekend of the sale, having still not found the missing piece, I decided to put it out as is hoping someone wouldn’t mind ordering the lock themselves.  I had no takers the first day, but the sale continued through the weekend.

That night I went to the grocery store to pick up a few items. A young woman was assigned to help me out with my bags as is the custom on our military base.  She was rather homely looking and obviously a woman of little means, judging by the size of the itty bitty diamond she wore proudly on her left hand.

I am not usually very chatty with strangers, but she sparked a conversation quickly, offering that she just found out she was pregnant with her first child.  She couldn’t have been more excited, and I found myself wrapped up in her joyful news.

“I don’t have anything for the baby yet, and there’s so much to get,” she said in an overwhelmed but elated tone.

Immediately I thought of the car seat I was trying to sell.  I mentioned that I might have something for her, but I wasn’t sure yet. A part of me was still hoping I’d get money for it.

The next day I couldn’t get my mind off the woman from the store.  Every time someone looked at the car seat and didn’t buy it, I was secretly relieved.

By now I really wanted to give it to this new mom to be.  At the end of the weekend, I drove up to the grocery store to deliver the gift.  She was so surprised and so thankful.  I was completely thrilled to part with it,  knowing that someone who needed it really wanted it.

“There’s only one problem,” I said. “You’ll have to call the manufacturer to get a new lock.”  I lifted up the manual to show her what I meant and there, sitting in the infant seat, was the lock!

I had looked high and low for that lock, washed the interior of the seat and turned it upside down and shook it for good measure.  I can assure you it was not there earlier.  The hair on the back of my neck stood upright as I knew I had witnessed a true miracle.  Thank you Lord, I thought as I handed over the car seat in perfect working order.

Andrea Z. LeRoy, ©2001

Spiritual gifts

Miracle of Reconciliation

This story was sent in to me by one of the Abundant Gifts e-zine subscribers. Though she asked that her name be changed, she wanted to pass on her testimony that God can move the hearts of others

through our intercession, and that NOTHING is impossible with God.

My aunt and uncle have more or less hated each other

since they were children.  Jealousy, and parents who

played one against the other, were major factors. They

are both in their forties and fifties now.  Over the years

the hate has more or less turned to no feeling.

This past year, I threw a Christmas party and invited

the family. The aunt and uncle were both aware of the

other's coming, but had decided to be civil on

my account.  I allowed that that was better than nothing,

but privately I vowed that something HAD to happen.

My aunt was there first, since she was from out of

state, and staying at my house.  My uncle arrived on

time, and as I saw him pulling in the driveway, I  ran to

the bathroom.

I said, “Lord, I don't know if I've specifically asked for

help in this.  But I do know I need you. I know you

have reasons for everything you do, but there's no

reason for a brother and sister to hate each other. 

Please change their hearts.”  My face and my fists were

clenched tight as I waited for something.  Then I just

knew. I ran out of the bathroom at the exact time that

my uncle had walked into the house.

 Now you have to picture this.  My aunt gets up from

the table and walks over to my uncle's wife and hugs her

(the two had liked each other).  Later my aunt would

say that even at this point, and for the following minute

she still did not feel ANYTHING for my uncle.  My

aunt turns, and for some unknown reason she decided to

hug my uncle.  She later says, she decided to

hug him, just because, still not feeling anything for him.

THEN it happened.  As she hugged him, she says later,

she felt love pouring in her heart.  She actually FELT it

coming in.  She was shocked and started to pull away

when she became shocked again---he was holding her

tightly!!! They held onto each other for a solid ten

minutes, then separated only to arm’s length for a

second ( to take a look at each other), then proceeded

to hug some more.

It was awesome!  Both spouses were not prepared, and

didn't know what to make of it.  I was giving God the

“high five.” Yes!  I knew it would be OK.

My aunt later said she never knew such peace.  It was a

beautiful party.