Ann_MelodysTestimony

Annoooland brings the world a little closer

Trust In The Good Shepherd

Father Knows Best

A personal experience with God
answering a prayer in HIS time.

by Melody Warren
Roses Of Sharon

4 years ago this last November, my younger sister Mary Joe died of
cancer. This was her second trip around with the dreaded disease. In
September of that year she was informed that it had progressed into
most of her body including her brain. The Dr. told her that she would
leave us in the Spring but that she would be with us at Christmas.

She lived on the East coast and I live on the west coast. That year
I had made several trips back east to be with her as much as possible
but now my finances were running very low.

We were very close and we could talk about everything so I asked her
if she wanted me to come home for Christmas or wait until Spring. Her
comment was that she wanted me to come home for Christmas as it wouldn't
do her or me any good to come home after she had died and she wanted
to spend her last Christmas with me. However she went into hospice in
the middle of October and we were informed that she would go at any time.

As I was not quite prepared financially to make the trip again so
soon I did some hard praying. The next day I got a call from the Theater
that I sometimes worked for either in the costuming department or on
their advertising campaigns. They had a campaign coming up and
asked if I would be able to work.

Knowing that it was a 6 week campaign and that I probably couldn't be
there through it all something told me to take the job anyway. The first
night at work the campaign manager asked each of us why we had decided
to do the campaign. He said he was interested in what motivated us.
Believe me - in advertising you need motivation because you can't
promote something effectively you don't believe in.

When it was my turn I simply told him the truth about why I was there
and that I needed the money to get home and the reason I needed to
get there. As it was I was racing the clock and most likely wouldn't
get there before my sister died anyway. But I had to try.

Later that evening while I was working the manger came up to me
and told me before I left work that night to please stop
by his desk. I said, "Okay!"

Just before leaving I went to his desk and he presented me with a
check for $900. He had called the airline and booked a flight for
me back home. The only problem was that he could not get me on a
flight before the 2 weeks advance notice. And he couldn't get me
bereavement unless my sister had already died.

The next day I called my local travel agent as I knew her very well.
I booked all my previous flights the year before with her and she
knew about my sister. I paid for the ticket but Pepper (the agent)
called the airline every day trying to get them to change the
rules for me. They would not budge.

In the meantime, I kept praying, but to be perfectly honest, my hopes
were dashed. I was thankful each day that my sister was still alive,
but so sure that I would never see her again, and I would not be able
to keep my promise to her to be with her BEFORE she died. Even though
I had promised to come home for Christmas to be with her it would
be the same thing now that she would not be with us then.

Then on the 11th day Pepper called me and told me she had finally got
through to the people at the airline and that I needed get to the
airport right away - I was booked on the next flight out.

I arrived at the airport in Connecticut at 1:00 pm and my mother drove
me right to the hospital. I was there for 10 hours with my sister and
my mother then told me that she was going to take me back to the house
because I needed rest. I had worked the day before and had been on
a plane for 8 hours. I had had no sleep. It was 11:00 pm. Suddenly
this urge to pray with my sister came over me.

My sister was unsaved - in case I hadn't mentioned it. I took my sisters
hand and told her that I was going to pray with her and that I knew
that she could not say the prayer out loud so it was okay to say it
from her heart. I then said the sinner's prayer of salvation. As soon
as I was finished I felt my sister squeeze my hand and I knew she knew
what was going on. At that moment I looked up and her eyes were opened
and she was smiling at me. I told her that it was okay and that we
loved her very much, but it was ok if she wanted to go home now.

15 minutes later my sister left this world and I am positive
that she went to be with the Lord.

If I had gone home to be with her when "I" wanted to, it would have
been to soon and if I had to wait the full 2 weeks it would have been
too late. At the exact moment that it was necessary the Lord opened
all the doors and no one else could have been responsible but God.
By the way - the airline even gave me bereavement and refunded
a small portion of the plane fare.

This is what I mean by - When there is silence and it seems that God
has forsaken you he is waiting to answer your prayer at HIS will and
in HIS time for He knows when it is best and what is best for you.

I thank God for that everyday and everytime I think of my sister.

Do I ever forget it? To be honest I do for just a little while when
everything seems to be in turmoil but it is like this little light
goes off and the Lord is reminding me that HE knows what is best.

Melody Warren's testimony is an extremely personal one and should
you wish to place it at your website to inspire others, please
write me so that I may contact her to seek her permission or put
you directly in touch with her. Thank you for your
respect and consideration.