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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Help (02/20/06)
“She’s a classic textbook case,” the doctor announced. Mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

The time had come...we had to move her to a care facility in Michigan to be closer to us. That meant I would now be responsible for decisions and needs in her life. It’s a strange feeling to take over a parent’s life. She wasn’t a child, yet she seemed so vulnerable. Though she was still my mother, it felt like our roles had somehow been switched.

Unable to sleep one night, I tossed and turned, my mind filled with anxious thoughts. "Lord, I can't sleep; something is wrong. I can't even put my finger on what it is. I need some help."

A thought moved across my mind. "What do you need, My child?"

I pondered for a moment, attempting to focus. "I don't know what I need, Lord. I'm too confused to think straight."

"My beloved... know that I Am," He responded.

With those simple words, He reminded me that He is the provider for all my needs and for my mother’s needs as well. Yes, God is the “I Am,” the one Who knew me intimately, who saw my agitation, Who embraced me and wanted to comfort my soul. I sensed Him wanting me to know that He was the answer to anything I wanted to ask for at that moment. It was as though He were saying, “I Am the answer. What do you need?”

As I sat in His presence, one practical need emerged in my mind. "Lord, I need a special kind of support hose for my mother. I know that seems mundane but I’ve already looked in several stores and a number of catalogs. I can’t seem to find what she needs anywhere.

I awaited His answer.

A thought entered my mind that I recognized was not my own because I had run out of ideas. "Precious one, if you will look in Sears Health Catalog in the morning, you will find what you need."

That was one place I had not looked for the hose. Indeed, I didn't even know Sears had a health catalog. With the anticipation that help was on the way, I soon drifted off to sleep.

First thing next morning I headed downtown to the Sears store. Approaching the catalog desk, I asked the clerk, “Do you happen to have some kind of health catalog?”

“Why, yes,” she replied. “It’s right on that rack over there.”

Stepping over to the rack she had pointed out, I quickly found the one labeled “Health Catalog.” Flipping to the section on hose, my eyes fell on the exact kind mother needed. As I placed my order, there was only one thing left to say:

“Thank you Lord. You are truly my ‘I Am,’ today, a very present help in time of need.”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Lynda Schultz 
03/01/06
Oh yes! Having been through that same kind of role reversal, I was with you all the way—even down to the stockings. My mother would only wear lyle stockings and they were SO hard to find. Well done.
Beth Muehlhausen
03/12/06
Awesome! Divine intervention for sure! What a sweet breath of fresh air - right when you needed to be reminded that the great I AM was there to provide for your need!

Well done, as usual - very honest and forthright writing. :-)