“Karen’s Notes!
Insights from a Glory-Bound Lady”
Selected Notes
Volume 2 Number 32 “Does Your Soul Follow Hard?”
August 7th, 2019
I will never forget one night in our couple’s devotions when it was Karen’s turn to pray. She took my hand and started to cry. Opening my eyes I saw her face in the soft light of our bedroom. “One more, Honey. What would you think?” she asked. Before I could say a word, “We have all of eternity ahead. But surely in all the children that are still available for adoption, there must be a terminally ill child that we can introduce to the Lord Jesus before he or she dies. Honey, just one more, and can we please adopt a terminally ill one?” she softly spoke as tears ran down her cheeks.
We prayed and sought the Lord. He surprised us. Not only did the Lord have one more child who was terminally ill, he also had a little sister. Billy came to us with Duchene’s Muscular Dystrophy. His very healthy little sister, Rachel, came at the same time! John, Jo-Ann, Jean, Jeremy, Melissa, Jay and Wally welcomed their new brother and sister.
Billy outlived the doctor’s expectations. We constantly needed wisdom to help him in his life. The great thrill was when Billy wanted to place his trust in Christ alone. There was no doubt in his mind that he needed salvation and that could only come through Christ. Many years later we stood by his bedside at Metro Health Hospital when he went Home to be with the Lord Jesus.
Soon thereafter, Karen underlined two verses that got her “Mama’s heart” through this experience. I’ll share them with you and the brief thing she wrote in her margin.
“Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me” (Psalm 63:7-8).
Karen wrote: 9-17-13 Bill.
Karen shared: At the funeral home several days later as I stood by her side, many friends came through the line. I heard her sharing about how she was determined to follow closely to the Lord and choose to rejoice because she knew where her boy was. She told many that his race was finished and that she wanted to live for Christ in such a way that she would finish well, also. Though her mama’s heart was broken, she spoke of our little boy Jeffrey who went to Heaven in 1988 and how he and Billy were together now.
Michael’s observation: Her soul followed hard after Him. Honestly friends, in our hard circumstances, we will either grow bitter or we will grow blessed. Intentionally draw near to Him through the Word, follow hard after Him through prayer, and be watching how He helps as only He can do.