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At times we are amazed by God's perfect timing and miraculous intervention when He answers our prayers.
"Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can." - John Wesley
Desert Storm 1, the invasion of Kuwait and the drive to push the Iraqi Army back to where they belonged began. A short war, a mere 10 days in length. But it was a long wait for me---16 years to recall a special occurrence that has never happened since.
I may be sarcastic but certainly not a “doubting Thomas” by any measure.
Yet, I do believe God sends messages and events our way.
How does one count a blessing in the form of a miracle?
What kind of human gauge of understanding and logic defines what can only be divine?
Should the realm of reality be tough to explain?
Like telling the wind and rain to stop….
on my command, yeah right….
I remember the night and the day after quite well,
And the agonizing 4 weeks afterwards,
Nervously awaiting news to pack and go,
Uniform ready,
References studied,
Policies and procedures familiarized,
But no gun, no ruck sack, and no troops,
A Major without a battalion or unit to go into combat
Frustration, apathy, indifference and the most painful waiting
“Honey, why do you prepare for something that may not happen ?…”
my wife’s words still echo in my mind, like a ping pong ball bouncing off a paddle.
Because I have to be ready at moment’s notice,
Someone depends on me and I will not let him down this time.
I told myself it won’t be like it was 12 years before, when I held the hand of another dying soldier,
Helpless in blood, crying in pain, loss to memory.
I went to bed, tossed and turned and awakened by the telephone ring announcing a death.
“You’re it, Major” said an impersonal voice from the Casualty Center at Ft. Knox.
“…21 year old, infantry man, stepped on a land mine two days after the cease fire…”
You have until not later than 7am to tell the family,
Wife, young son, and they live in the country somewhere.
Better hurry, it’s your duty as the Next-of-Kin Officer.
With a sense of duty and pride,
I dressed in my uniform and checked the address.
Rural Route so and so, Ohio.
No street address? No Google to help me get there?
I knew the general direction but I needed to be precisely on time BEFORE the sun rises.
I am the officer in the movie Saving Private Ryan who tells the mother of the loss of her sons.
I rush into my truck and drive, thoughts in mind
Where is it, will I make it, what if…,
But I stopped and clenched my steering wheel and prayed to God
to help his messenger bring the ultimate message.
Down a long country road, corn fields on both sides, the sun rises.
Time is marching on and running out….
I pass an old gentleman walking along side the road.
He looks at me, the eyes are friendly.
I stop and reverse my tracks,
Asking for directions, I look up a see a gentle face, an understanding look.
“…something serious happened, Son?”, as he gazed at my uniform
“Yes, I am afraid so…”
“Here, follow these directions and you find a trailer home in the woods back yonder…”
“Good luck and God Bless…” with a unforgettable stare at me…
I start my truck and drive along.
A mere 100 feet I stop and say “…wait a minute…”, “… this can’t be happening…” and look into my rear view mirror.
The old man was gone and no where in sight on a barren country road and corn fields.
The directions led me directly to where I needed to go,
Led by intuition and divine help,
A knock on the door, a face appears, then soon tears and screams.
As if they knew
A young wife with a son comes and I begin with
“…On behalf of a grateful nation….”
Before the sun rises and morning sets its beauty on God’s earth.
147 died in the war and I was selected in the night to tell a family of a fallen one.
Where do I look for a miracle?
How do I know where one is near?
Then a silent voice whispered to me.
Child of God, look no further than a mirror.
Deed done, 16 years later.
God Bless America and bless us all.
Copyright © 2007 by Myles Saulibio. All Rights Reserved
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Reader Reviews for
"One More Miracle"
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| Reviewed by E. Phillips |
9/3/2012 |
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| This is a masterful touch by a gentle hand, a wise mind. Many thanks. Ed |
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| Reviewed by John Domino |
12/29/2008 |
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Well penned!
A difficult task with a special ending.
Yours in Christ,
John Michael Domino |
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| Reviewed by Frances Webb |
9/5/2007 |
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| This miricle story of God sending an angel in disquise to help, has touched my heart like no other. God really does care about our struggles and pain. Let us not let ourselves forget to pray in our times of sadness and despair. |
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