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Our stories

We all have a story to share of our lives with our husbands. I love to talk about my story!

A little girl’s answered prayer

As a child, I remember my mother kneeling beside my bed as I said my prayers. Every night, I asked the Lord to “let me get married and have babies”.

God’s answer to my prayers? That boy from church.

For as long as I could remember, I had always known that boy.

Suddenly, I was writing his name on my notebook paper in class. ‘Steve McCain’. Over and over. I tried out my name with his. ‘Kathy McCain’. Yes, I liked the way that looked very much.

Feelings shifted from ‘that boy I knew at church’ to a boy that caused my heart to flutter and my cheeks to turn red without a word being spoken.

Hearing the words, “I love you” that first time and whispering it back.

On August 18, 1972, I married that boy from church.

God began a beautiful tapestry early in our lives – a beautiful and intricate combination of things and events.

The threads of beautiful colors running in many directions on the backside of that tapestry, and the most beautiful picture revealed when you turn it over.

But what happens when the knitted or woven threads begin to unravel?

Nowhere in our plans for life did we picture a day when we would stand alone. For me, that day was July 17, 2016 when my husband suffered a massive heart attack at home.

Unraveled

Even after almost eight years, I feel unraveled at times. It is a terrible feeling, and I become panicky as I try to pull myself back together in my own strength.

The Lord has brought a wonderful story of faith and hope to my heart and mind over the last few weeks.

Go back with me into the lives of two people and their encounter with Jesus one day.

(Matthew 9:18–26; Mark 5:21–43; Luke 8:40–56)

Jarius — A father’s search for a healer

Jesus was the talk of Capernaum. No sooner had Jesus’ feet touched the ground from that boat, a desperate father named Jarius found Him with His disciples. His only child, a 12-year-old daughter, lay dying.

“Master, help me!”

The moment Jesus heard Jarius, He turned and followed this father, with the crowd pushing in to see this man called Jesus who performed miracles.

The Bible tells us that as Jarius spoke to Jesus, a messenger came from his home and told him his daughter had died.

“But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.”
Luke 8:50

There was another in the crowd that day who needed Jesus.

We know the story of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood.

Can we relate to that woman healed in Capernaum that day?

How could her desperate need for physical healing have anything to do with our need for a healer today in our season of widowhood and grief?

Let’s go to that dirty, narrow and crowded street that day as Jesus was on His way to Jarius’ home.

Getting to Jesus was her only goal.

What did it take for the woman with the issue of blood to enter that crowd of people following Jesus?

It was the realization that she would not find her healing, strength or her peace,

without a touch from Jesus.

She pushed forward.

Jesus was her only Hope.

There He was. Pushing with all her might she moved forward — so close she could see His robe and the tassel on His belt. With every ounce of her strength, she stretched out her hand just to touch the hem of His garment.

Through the noise of the crowd, Jesus’ voice was heard to say…

“Who touched Me?”
Luke 8:45 (KJV)

Confusion filled the disciples. Jesus was being touched from all sides by that crowd, but He felt the very moment she touched His garment. The power went forth from Him into her – and she was healed.

“And He said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”
Luke 8:48 (KJV)

Jesus called her, “Daughter”.

What does this story have to do with our season of grief?

We can learn a lot in those simple words of Jesus!

“Thy faith hath made thee whole; GO IN PEACE.”

With FAITH comes HEALING and PEACE!

For twelve years, this woman had suffered. She had known a different life before her circumstances changed. No doctor could heal her.

I believe grief is an issue of the heart that can cause physical issues and pain as well.

God created the tapestry of our lives, but it is ever-changing.

The one constant is our realization that we desperately need the Creator of that tapestry.

It is by faith, and hope we fix our gaze on a man named Jesus, the Son of God, who visited the city of Capernaum one day and gave life back to two who recognized their need for Him. – and found Him.

If today finds you in a place where you feel you are unraveling…

Remember this…

“When you are hanging by a thread, make sure it is the hem of His garment.”

(Tony McKeehan)

The Lord Jesus is close and can always be found.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your promise that we will find You when we seek You with our whole heart. Help us to recognize our great need for You, Lord Jesus. Amen