You might remember a prayer request that I shared last spring for my sister-in-law, Joyce, who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Today I am sharing a beautiful Thanksgiving story of how God met her and my brother this fall in a very special way.
(Photo taken in 2015 at my brother and sister-in-law’s home.)
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Several years ago, an elderly woman planted a garden in her back yard. She tended the small area with such care, dreaming up beauty with a pond and even a trickling waterfall. She called the space her “Garden of Prayer” and met with her Lord there for sweet times of communion with Him.
Prayer was such an important part of her days. When her car stalled on the way to one of her church’s prayer meetings, her heart sank. She longed to meet with her brothers and sisters to lift their needs up to Jesus. How would that happen now? But suddenly there was a tap on her window, and a young woman was asking her if she needed help.
OH YES! “Could you just take me to my prayer meeting? I know that my car can be taken care of, and towed to the repair shop later. But I don’t want to miss my gathering today.” So the young woman gladly drove her the short distance to where the prayer meeting was scheduled.
The years passed by and the woman knew that she needed to put her home up for sale. But would her garden be tended with the same care? Would anyone even care for her precious garden of prayer?
Across town in a neighboring suburb, a retired pastor and his wife were struggling to take care of their home. The yard was too large and the steps down to the basement were too many as cancer loomed for his wife. Even his own heart-disease made the tasks feel impossible. They thanked God for their children and grandchildren who helped when they could. But the day finally came when they knew they needed to find a new, smaller home.
They prayed about finding a home closer to their son and daughter-in-law, and amazingly, a home was listed for sale just down the street from them! The retired pastor and his wife walked into the house and felt a blessing around them. She saw such beautiful possibility in the single level smaller home. He saw a small pond with a trickling waterfall that would be perfect to bring over his fish from his own larger garden pond. He could not describe the peace he felt in that garden, except to know that this was the place they were meant to buy.
Yes, the young woman who helped that elderly lady was the daughter-in-law of the retired pastor, and that garden of prayer was the place of peace that the pastor had taken such joy in. But the timing of the selling and the buying was also planned as only God could have arranged. The pastor’s wife finished her last round of chemo on the very week that they moved into the new home.
Of course, you have probably guessed that the pastor and his wife are my brother and sister-in-law that you have been praying for. But God did not miss one detail in this story for them.
After the pastor’s family helped him to move over everything from the old house and garden into the new home, he found a fish tank to house his fish over the coming cold months of winter. He felt a nudge to go back for one last check over his old garden, and one last check of his fish pond. Amazingly, one lonely fish had been missed in the previous day’s gathering. “Smoke” the little fish with his white saddle on his underbelly was rescued and given a special new tank with a friend for the winter.
You might think that one little fish is too small to count. But if our Father in Heaven sees when one little sparrow falls, then no detail will be overlooked by Him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7 NIV
My brother’s wife is having her surgery to remove the tumor this very week, on November 22. Would you join me in praying for her full healing?
I would love to pray with you for those details that you feel have been overlooked in your own story. God sees every moment of our days. He will never miss one need that we carry. And His gifts are planned so perfectly for each one of us.
Dear Father in Heaven,
Thank You for sending Your own dear Son for us so that we might live with You forever. Oh, Lord, what a joy that will be, when we are finally face-to-face with You. But for now, our hearts are filled with longings in these days that feel so hard. There are times when we feel forgotten, when it seems that our hearts are bearing loads that no one else even sees. Thank You that not one longing is overlooked by You. Thank You that not one burden is forgotten by You. Help us to cling to You when those longings and burdens get too heavy. We look to YOU for the help and the healing that we need. Only You can bring the fullness that our hearts truly desire. We love You, our Lord and Savior.
In the name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen.
++++And one small correction that my brother just noted: while he was sad about leaving his old pond, this new pond is actually bigger than the last one! God truly sees every detail!++++
A GIFT FOR YOU
And I am so very blessed to offer to you, all my readers, a gift for this coming Christmas Season. Two years ago, my friend Ifeoma Samuel invited me to join her in writing a special month-long celebration of Christmas Family Devotions. And this year, she has so graciously compiled them into a beautiful book for download. You will find 25 short Devotions that are easy to read with your family during Advent. There are enriching activities that you and your family can join in with, helping to bring the joy and meaning of this Season more clearly into your lives.
HE CAME TO US!
Christmas is God’s gift of grace to us. And I pray that the gift of this e-book would be another way to share in that grace together. I will be offering this book here, available for free download to you my readers during the months of November and December. I am so grateful for each one of you.
I am linking with:
BettieGsRAseasons 
No situation matters..He will take care of everyone since He loves us.
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Amen, Dear Athira! He really does meet all of us, in every situation. His love is so great! Bless you today!
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Beatiful story. Thank you, Bettie, for this.
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Thank you Dear Lisa. I am so thankful to share praises for the way that our Lord meets each one of us. Love and Blessings to you!
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I am thankful God never overlooks us. We are always covered in His love and protection. Have a wonderful week! 🙂
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Oh, yes, so thankful! I love the way that you said that, “God never overlooks us.” Such a precious thought today. I pray that you have a wonderful week also, Dear Melissa!
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That’s wonderful to read your story of your brother, Bettie. What a testimony of how God is always working for us! I will pray for your sister ‘n law and brother. Hugs and blessings to you!
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Thank you so much for your prayers, Lynn. Isn’t God so amazing? He really does bring such beautiful stories into our lives. May I keep trusting Him more and more! Hugs and blessings to you also!
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What a wonderful testimony of God’s amazing attention to detail, abundant love and overseeing care this inspiring story is! Thanks for sharing it with us, Bettie. I also appreciate your beautiful, encouraging prayer and plan to return to its helpful words again. These find a deep soul “Amen!” in me: “Thank You that not one longing is overlooked by You. Thank You that not one burden is forgotten by You. Help us to cling to You when those longings and burdens get too heavy.” Such a comfort for us all as we battle with our burdens! Blessings, love and grateful hugs to you, dear friend. xoxo
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Dear Joy,
Isn’t God so very good? He really does see every detail of our lives, and every longing tucked away in our hearts. I am so thankful that He brings us such comfort when we realize that. And I am so grateful that we can pray together over those longings and burdens. He sees the battles that we face too. Even when we feel alone in them, we are not, because He is right there fighting for us. You are a blessing and a comfort to me, Dear Friend. I pray blessings and love over you this week! xoxo
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You did it again, you made me cry! I guess this is payback for all the teasing I used to do to you? One small correction, I was sad that I was leaving a small pond only to find the prayer ladies pond 4 times bigger with a waterfalls!
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Wow, I didn’t realize that this pond was actually bigger! I missed that detail somehow. God is truly amazing. And I cried plenty while I was writing this out, so we are both in the same boat–God brings us to good tears! Love you both so very much!
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It does work that way. I used to tease my mom about how easily she cried during sappy movies or commercials and now I cry so easily at the same things – and at sweet words and memories. She says it serves me right 😉
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Oh I love that, Lisa! So sweet that you can share those times with your mom now! And enjoy the fun memories too!
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Yep, we share the memories and then pass the tissue box back and forth.
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What a wonderful story! May God heal your sister-in-law and make her whole and grant her many more happy years with your brother and all of you. He is ever faithful.
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Dear Cheryl,
Thank you so much for your precious prayers! Amen, I join you in that prayer that God would grant her many more happy years! He is so faithful in all of His ways. Much love and blessings to you dear friend!
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What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing. It is so like our wonderful Savior to work out every detail.
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Dear Jerralea,
Yes, our Savior works such wonderful stories in our lives. Even when we cannot see how, He is bringing such care to every detail. Blessings to you this week!
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Oh, Bettie, what a beautiful story of God’s provision. And the story is not over yet. May God grant healing and a successful surgery. I love how you told the story in such an interesting way. Nothing is too small to matter. God knows every tiny detail of our lives and that is such a comfort. Many blessings to you with love and hugs, dear sister! xoxo
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Dear Gayl,
Oh thank you for your precious prayers and for your encouraging comments. Yes, the story is not over yet! I love that thought. He is still working to complete and make us whole in Him. What a blessed comfort that is! Many blessings, love and hugs to you too, dear sister! xoxo
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What a beautiful story of God’s provision Bettie! How did the other lady go in her move?
Praying for your sister in law.
Bless you,
Jennifer
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Dear Jennifer,
Thank you so much for your prayers for my sister-in-law. They are so appreciated! And I really don’t know any more about the other woman. I will have to ask my brother to see if they have heard. Thank you for sharing your compassionate heart, dear friend! Blessings to you this week also.
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That was such a beautiful story! I’ll be praying for your sister-in-law Friday. We are in the midst of trying to buy a home while selling ours at the same time and it looks like it may not work out. We know it is in God’s hands but right now it’s hard to be patient. Still, stories like this show us that God has us in his hands. Praying for complete healing for your sister-in-law.
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Dear Lisa,
Thank you for your precious prayers for my sister-in-law! They mean so much to me. And I will keep praying for you as you try to sell your home & buy another one. It really is such a process. But you are so right, He has it all in HIS hands, even when it feels so hard to us. Blessings and love to you!
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Praying for your sister in law right now, Bettie. May the Lord give mercy and bring her complete healing. I am waiting to hear results this afternoon from a dear daughter of one of my best friends. The daughter had breast cancer last year, full treatment, and today she will hear results from her most recent scan. We are asking God for great news.
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Thank you so much for your beautiful prayer Lisa! I will also join you in praying that same prayer over your dear friend’s daughter. May the Lord indeed bring her good news from those scans today. Blessings to you!
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What a beautiful testimony of God’s providence, Bettie! It brings tears to my eyes that God cares so much about every detail of our lives. This part of your prayer especially puts into words what I also feel – “Thank You that not one longing is overlooked by You. Thank You that not one burden is forgotten by You. Help us to cling to You when those longings and burdens get too heavy. We look to YOU for the help and the healing that we need.” Amen! May God guide the surgeon’s hands and bless your sister-in-law with strength and healing in her body and spirit! Love and blessings to you!
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Dear Trudy,
Oh, yes, I have had so many tears writing this story and praying over my sister-in-law. I appreciate your prayers so much, and join in with you asking that God would guide the surgeon’s hands! I am so very thankful that He really does see every burden and longing that we carry. Oh may I trust Him more.
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Dear Bettie,
Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful story of God’s love and care for us… Thoughts and prayers for successful surgery and complete healing for your dear sister-in-law and for all the family. God is so good! Thanks also for the Christmas devotional/pdf. I’ll send it to my kindle so I can enjoy your gift over the holidays. ❤ Blessings and love, my friend.
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Thank you so much for your prayers for my sister-in-law, they mean so much to me, and to them too! God really is so faithful to us! I pray that you will be blessed with the Advent Devotional. Love and blessings to you too, my friend!
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How is your sister-in-law doing after her surgery? Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving
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Thank you, Mandy. Yes, our Thanksgiving was quiet and peaceful. And thank you so much for praying for my sister-in-law. The surgeon who removed the tumor said that he found no evidence of cancer in the surrounding lymph nodes, Praise God! So she is recovering at home now. I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful also!
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