Saturday, October 24, 2015

Valerie Joy's Healing

Don was walking the floor with Valerie in his arms.  Sweat beads laid across his forehead, partially from the over stoked wood furnace and partially from the stress and exhaustion our 2nd born’s sickness had placed on our family.  We had just returned from the Wednesday evening service where once again I had sat in the nursery with a fussy baby, curling her little legs up in pain.

Valerie would soon be turning a year old and a big part of her life had been spent running back and forth to the doctors.  She suffered from severe asthma attacks and could not hold down her food or milk. A trip to the doctor for a shot would temporarily get her breathing better but dehydration was a constant threat to her life. A hospital stay at Mary Bridges Children’s Hospital, as well as one at The Children’s Hospital in Seattle did not give us any answers.  We were told she was a very sensitive child…..with a sensitive stomach and we needed to go home and get her on a strict schedule.

Don pastored a small church in the foothills of Mt Rainier. Thirty miles lay between our home and a small hospital with our family doctor.  It was a hundred miles to a Children’s hospital and specialty doctors. Don’s ministry had been hindered with our daughter’s condition. Every few weeks, Valerie would wake up before daylight on Sunday morning…….her asthma so bad she was struggling to breathe.  Don would call a young man from the church that was pursuing a ministry education to take over the services while we drove in to the hospital for several hours of treatment for Valerie.

With a quick turn Don walked over and laid Valerie in my arms. “We can’t keep going on like this,” Don commented.  “I’m going to go to the church to seek God.  Don’t worry about me.  Don’t call unless it’s an extreme emergency.  I won’t be home until I have some answers.”

Don fasted and spent time before the Lord for three days and three nights before coming home. ”I’m sure God wants me to continue this pastorate,” he announced. “I won’t be taking off any more Sundays to go to the hospital.”  “What will we do if Valerie has another attack on Sunday?” I questioned. “I’ve given her to the Lord, “my husband answered with tears watering his eyes. “I will be in the pulpit God has called me to….and trusting God to take care of the baby he has entrusted to our care.”

The following Sunday the test came.  Valerie woke up wheezing…..struggling to breathe. Don made her comfortable by propping up the end of her bed, looked at me, and said. “Honey, if you are uncomfortable with this decision and want to take her to the hospital, its ok.  You do whatever you need to do.”  He kissed Valerie, whispered a prayer, and left to go next door to the church.  I trusted my husband’s relationship with his Creator; yet, I needed my own time with the Lord. I went into my room, fell across the bed, and poured out my heart, my frustrations, and my love to God until my tears were exhausted….. and I too had given Valerie back to God. I rose up from my bed and walked slowly into Valerie’s room to check on her. To my gratefulness, she was sleeping peacefully and breathing normally.  From that day forward she never had another asthma attack, was able to keep her food and drink down normally, and became a happy, content child. God had performed a healing miracle in His little one.


The Word says, “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me, and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed. Jeremiah 29:12-14 (Message)   My husband did not go before the Lord to receive healing for our daughter……he was desperate to know he was following God’s will for his life. In the process of putting God first, we received a “gift” that has brought JOY to our lives for 46 years.  “Seek first His Kingdom, and all His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)