I would like to share a story of God’s goodness to me many years ago.
One of my 8 children went through an extended time of having some sort of “night terrors” almost every night. Night after night this little one would wake up screaming. Mike or I would take the child out of the house so as not to wake the whole household. We would get in our minivan and drive around the ranch while praying. It seemed to help calm the child down after a while.
During the winter nights, it was very cold. Our vehicle did have heat but it took a long time to heat up. Sometimes when I could see it would be a longer session, I would go down to the ranch radio station building to be for a while. The radio station was a metal building looking like a mechanic shop. It was very cold. In this building was a big room that was used for Sunday Mass at the time and smaller rooms that were used for broadcasting, an office, storage, etc. When I walked into that tin building it was always freezing. I would go into a small room and put on some heat, but again it took quite a while to warm up.
One frigid night as I was driving around, I was praying and pleading for God’s help as I often did. I then drove to the radio station. Much to my surprise, when I walked in carrying my child, the big room was toasty warm. I immediately broke down in tears as I knew Jesus had heated up the room for me. I checked the heater to be sure, and it was not on. It was OFF.
As I wept, I could feel the arms of Jesus and Mary around me. I felt wrapped in their embrace of love. I stayed there holding my child while we were being held by Jesus and Mary’s warm embrace in a miraculously heated room until we were both at peace. It was a night I will never forget!
I have a list written in a notebook of miracles that God has done for me, and this story is on that list. I still well up with emotion and gratitude when I recall that special night and even as I write this now.
That extended season of life was a difficult and exhausting time. All you parents out there understand ‘difficult and exhausting’ times of parenthood. I used to think, “I wonder what it’s like to go to bed and sleep.” Sound familiar?
However, it is in those times that God’s grace abounds and miracles happen, and our relationship with Jesus deepens. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
God bless,
Mary Ann / Mother Hen
Phillip Penna says
Thank you for the encouraging story.