Another Victory!!!

Years ago my friend and I did a brief study of numbers and their meanings according to the Bible. She and I have shared stares and giggles when things would happen because we would relate the event or the happening to the numbers. For example, we learned that the #17 is the number for Victory! Don't panic, we didn't go overboard and it's actually something that she and I have shared and laughed over for a very long time. It's kind of one of those "private joke" things that friends have, somewhat difficult to explain. Yesterday, Oct. 17, 2007 a reunion took place and yes I noticed that it was on the 17th!! If she's reading this, she's laughing.

Last Friday we received a call that a "long-lost" family member was found living in Kingsport. It stirred many emotions within the family and the phone hardly stopped ringing with ideas and plans of how she could be approached. On Monday morning as Rick was leaving for work he shared with me how excited, yet concerned, that he was and how much he wanted reconciliation. He began to cry when sharing his memories of what used to be. I wrapped my arms around him and began praying that God would bring reconciliation and restoration to this situation because I myself have been in the very same shoes. I left for work and requested prayer at our Staff meeting later that morning for my husband's family. On Tuesday at the close of our Life Group meeting, I did the same. When I got home from work late that night Rick read to me a letter that he wrote to this loved one and told me that this coming Friday he was going to find her and place it in her hands himself. I continued to whisper silent prayers and had asked a friend of mine at work to join me in praying about it. I knew that the situation had to be handled carefully and told him not to do anything until he had complete peace about it.

On Wednesday, Oct. 17th Rick and I sat across from one another discussing the calls he had gotten about this loved one. As our dinner was served his phone rang. His brother Larry said, "Rick, I'm here at the Salvation Army and I have found someone and she wants to talk to you." I could definitely tell something major had occurred and then I heard him say her name, "Linda". He began crying and said, "I've waited so long to hear your voice, can I please come and see you?" She too was crying and then I heard him say, "I love you and I'm on my way." We grabbed our waitress, paid our bill and left so quickly it's a blur. I drove him to Kingsport as he offered up many, many shouts of praise, "Thank You God, Praise You Lord!" He called everyone he knew that had been praying and he shook uncontrollably.

After 22 years of not seeing or talking with his sister, the one that he was the closest with due to their love and passion for music, he was finally on his way. He had band practice tonight but had called one of the band members and said, "I'm 5 minutes away from seeing my sister for the first time after 22 years so I won't be at rehearsal." As we pulled up I wasn't sure if he was going to let me stop the car before he jumped out. She wasn't there! His brother and sister-in-law were and they were waiting for the car to arrive with her in it and then she came. Talkin' about a perfect picture of Luke 15, "The Prodigal". She invited us in to her very small apartment and after many hugs, stares, and tears she pulled out the portable keyboard. Rick was glued to her and they couldn't talk fast enough about their days together putting chords together and changing words to certain songs. She said that she had been working on an old song called, "Daystar Shine Down on Me". Rick and I had just sung that song two weeks ago at church in our Gospel venue. God was preparing us then to break out in harmony with his sister who returned home. We sat there in amazement as we stared at one another, watching and listening as Linda played. I had only heard of her talent and now I was singing alto with the one and only. Tears fell down our faces as we tried to sing the best we could. After that song we began singing, "The Holy Hills of Heaven Call Me" and "I Won't Have to Worry Anymore". Can you imagine?!!!

Larry and Jeannie left us and said they would return in about 30 minutes. We continued to sing, talk and laugh together and then the knock came to the door. Rick's mother who is now 85 years old, walked in on what she's waited many years for. Larry had gone to get her to reunite her with her daughter, her "sweet Linda". I stand amazed at this miracle!!

The night lasted quiet a while and we all had gone over to Larry's house where other family members came to see and the phone never stopped ringing. For years we have prayed and for years we'll rejoice that our God prevailed!!

Another lesson in perseverance that paid off!