Karen’s Notes
Celebrating Six Years of Sharing from this Glory-Bound Lady
Volume 6 Number 18
Posting # 262 “Her Tears! Her Prayer! Her Answer!”
May 3rd, 2023

I want you to know the background of today’s Karen’s Notes.
Our little four-year-old son Jeffrey died in June of 1988. Two hours later his best buddy Johnny also went Home to be with the Lord. Soon his dear friend Joey would also go Home to be with the Lord. From the same church family, the three “J” boys all made such a mark in the hearts of the entire church.
Several years later, we adopted three more children. We thought our family was complete. Jeremy was born to us in 1976. Several years later we adopted John, Jo-Ann, and Jean. Jeffers came to us and would finish his race in a brief few years. Then we adopted Melissa, Jay and Wally. We were adjusting well with the help of the church family.

Then it happened in our couples’ devotions just before we went to bed for the night.
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.

My mind raced.

I thought, “We’ve experienced the heartbreak of six miscarriages and the homegoing of Jeffrey. We have a house full of children already. One more! One more?”

I looked deeply into her eyes. Karen seldom made requests. This was the exception. I knew she walked closely with the Lord, and this was not a rash request. One more? Just one more? A terminally ill child?

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 with great joy their new brother and sister, Billy and Rachel.

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, on September 17th, 2013, we stood by his bedside at Metro Health Hospital when he went Home to be with the Lord Jesus.

I want you to see what Karen wrote in her Bible.
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 the margin of her Bible at Psalm 63:7-8.

“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.” 9-17-13 Bill.

I want you to think of what she spoke to folks who came.
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.

What in the world does it mean to “follow hard”?
Our two English words “follow hard” is just one Hebrew word. It is the word dabaq
(daw-BAK). This means “to cling, to stick close, to follow closely.”

Karen’s 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.

Let me send you on your way with this.
When the Lord puts something on your heart and you pray and seek His will, you just might be amazed as to how He answers and what He does!