DANA'S DISCOVERY (standard:Inspirational stories, 2352 words)
Author: Ester	Added: Apr 28 2003	Views/Reads: 3529/2317	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Dana finds that there is more to a Christian life than just playing church.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

devotions.  Through high school we had brief devotions at breakfast 
with Mom and Dad.  By high school we began having our own personal 
devotions also.  Thursday night was family night.   After our 
activities of the evening, we had family devotions where we shared our 
spiritual ‘gleanings' of the week and any special troubles or triumphs. 
 It was always my favorite night, most of the time anyway.  If I was in 
a rebellious/disobedient frame of mind, family devotions didn't make me 
very comfortable! 

As I mentioned before, Anna is my business manager.  After graduation
she plans to become a CPA.  She'll be good.  What a fit she gives me 
whenever I forget to give her a receipt for purchases toward a party!  
Even her room is organized so that she knows with a glance if I have 
been in to borrow even a bracelet. 

Dale and David, the twins, now, are a different story entirely.  They
are typical boys, with their minds on sports, friends and fun.  If it 
wasn't for Saturday being set aside to clean their rooms, they probably 
couldn't find the beds.  At first they had their separate bedrooms, but 
soon moved both beds into one room and made the other room into a 
‘play' room.    They were good students but concentrated as much time 
as possible into basketball in the fall and soccer in the spring. 

Believe it or not, there is a point to all these introductions and
information.  I don't think you could understand me at all unless you 
knew my family and our ways. 

With all of this going for me, why do I have such inner conflict?  I
want so much to be liked, included.  No one else could even imagine why 
that thought would cross me mind.  Decent grades, most dependable in 
junior high, first string on the softball team, leader in the teen 
group at church, never in trouble, a full scholarship to a Christian 
college...these gave the illusion of a great life!  What else could I 
want!  What else did I want?  Why couldn't I be content with my life?  
I didn't know.  It was an elusive emptiness that left me wanting no 
matter how well I did. 

As close as I was to my parents, as many times as I had gone to them
with other problems, some serious, I had never told them how I felt 
deep inside.  I had even counseled others on similar problems, pointed 
out verses to encourage them and led them to have a daily quiet time 
themselves and saw success.  Why didn't it work for me?  Wasn't I 
sincere?  Of course I was, I wanted that peace inside more than 
anything.  Day after day I read my Bible with a vengeance, looking for 
whatever I was missing. 

On Tuesday my pager went off during class.  Mom rarely called me at
school.  As soon as class was over I called home, a little anxious.  
“What's up, Mom?” I asked lightly. 

“Honey, as soon as you can get free, Janie needs you to come over.  You
know she was going to the doctor today.  Well, . . .she was diagnosed 
with cancer.” 

After a long silence I responded, “I'll go right over, Mom.”  Janie was
her long-time best friend.  Since kindergarten we had had a special 
bond.  Our activities together ebbed and flowed due to varied 
interests.  But, we always knew the other was there, ready to be 
whatever was needed.  In elementary school we had each cut our fingers 
and let the blood flow together and became blood sisters forever.  
Forever. . . she couldn't have cancer. . .she might die. . .we promised 
to be there for each other always. 

What about Tim, Janie's fiancé.  How would he deal with this?  Her
parents and little sister must be devastated.  So many thoughts went 
through my mind as I drove. 

Arriving at Janie's, I knocked and then walked on in.  All the family
was there.  Although they were a little red-eyed from recent tears, 
each smiled as I entered and went straight to Janie and held her.  The 
others left them alone for a while and they talked.  Though a bit 
frightened and anxious, Janie had a sense calm I couldn't understand.  
No one was falling apart here. 

After leaving the doctor's office the family had met with the pastor for
counsel and prayer.  Their faith was holding them strong, whatever the 
outcome.  Though I had this same God, I was amazed at Janie's peace, 
and was confused.  I left after a while promising to be in daily 
contact. 

Alone in the car and still in shock, I shook my head.  I was saved, I
knew that.  Then why was Janie handling this better than I was? 

At home I shared the news with my folks and went to my room right after
supper.  My heart and mind was still reeling. 

The weeks went by.  Janie began treatment and it seemed to be effective.
 It would be a long time before anything definite was known.  We still 
spoke daily even if it was only for a moment when she was weak from 
treatment. 

One day while reading my Bible, I came across the verse, “Be still, and
know that I am God.”  Suddenly the realization of WHO God was hit me.  
He wasn't just the Creator:  He was my Father, my Saviour and 
everything I would ever need.  Reading the Bible was supposed to be my 
time of listening to God.  It's hard to listen when you are looking for 
something.  Even with the Bible in front of me, I was trying to do it 
all herself, my way.  I recalled a quote, “Be still and let God”. 

I began to read my Bible as if it were a letter from a Friend.  My
prayer time became personal and conversational.  Slowly my thinking, 
attitude and actions began to change.  As I got to know my ‘Friend' 
better, I relaxed and began to enjoy the time spent with Him.  One day 
I realized that He was my constant companion, even when others were 
present. 

Often in our lives, it takes a major event to make us face our spiritual
condition.  It's better to see and correct it ourselves, but if we 
won't, God will deal with us.  I realized that although I didn't know 
just why Janie had cancer, I did know that God had used this to draw me 
closer to Him.  I even shared this with Janie, albeit shamefully.  As 
usual, Janie just thanked God for my new peace and cried tears of joy 
with me. 

Oh, there are still hard times to face and times when I get off base,
but usually it is when I have neglected the daily visits or am in the 
wrong with Him or my parents.  If I don't approach my parents, they 
will finally confront me with their concerns.  It is more difficult 
when it is with God and something others can't see.  On these occasions 
it is up to me to realize and admit the wrong or problem, ask God to 
forgive me and ensure it doesn't come up again.  That is not always 
easy, especially when a long time habit is involved.  Having to face my 
own sin, calling it what it is, and bringing it out into the open is 
not always easy.  Once I had had to go to my parents with a particular 
problem that I needed to deal with but was having trouble doing so.  
Somehow, after a visit with Dad in his study, the way was clear and I 
knew he would follow up on my progress!  There is a definite benefit to 
accountability, even after childhood. 

It has been five years since that special day in my life.  The business
is thriving.  My sister is a CPA and still handles my business affairs. 
 Mom is my part-time assistant and the twins often helped out when 
needed.  Dad is happily helping others get their lives on track.  With 
two of us ‘grown' and living on our own, and two still in high school, 
it is still Mom and Dad who hold the family together.  We all still 
come together on Thursday for Family Night.  Dad still confronts us 
with anything he thinks we need to work on and we still go to him with 
things we can't correct alone.  Mom is still our friend and counselor. 

Janie struggled, but survived the cancer and is now Tim's wife and
mother of a beautiful one year old daughter, Amy.  I still speak with 
her often and had given Amy a free first birthday party.  I also did 
Janie's wedding as a gift to my friend and a celebration of her life. 

The girls in my Sunday School Class; yes, I am teaching junior high
girls, are a joy.  I work hard to instill God's love in them and to 
help them see their personal responsibility to stay close to Him.  Once 
we accept His salvation we can never be cast out, but sin can break the 
close sense of fellowship with Him.  Some understand and some aren't 
sure where I'm coming from.  That's ok.  I'll be here to help them when 
they need me, just like my parents, Janie, and God were and are there 
for me. 

Isn't God good?!!!! 


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