I have never blogged about my past. I rarely talk about it any more because there is forgiveness where wounds seemed terminal, but, life now abounds. But fear was an enemy greater than any enemy of flesh and blood could ever be. Some of you have asked, so here is a story of one of many times I saw Christ moving in my life.
Love, Diane
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“Get out of the house, now!” the caller yelled frantically. “He’s strung-out and has a gun, and says he’s going to kill you!” Click, the phone goes quiet.
Sitting up in the bed with the receiver still in my hand I stare at the clock, still a little drunk with sleep. It is 2o’clock in the morning.
“Did I dream that phone call, or did it really happen?” I comforted myself thinking that maybe it was a prank call. I cradle the receiver and reach for the covers.
The phone rings again, causing me to jump. My heart is now beating so hard I can hear it pounding in my ears.
“Hello.”
“You don’t know me, but he has just left here strung-out on something. He has a gun and says he is going to kill you! You have been warned!”
Click.
Now fully awake, I step into the running shorts and shoes, still lying on the floor where I crawled into bed and grabbed a patchwork quilt from the end of the bed.
Running down the hall, I entered into the first bedroom. Gently taking my son by the arm I whisper to him to get up. He is eight years old and has seen too much of a marriage going badly. He jumps up without saying a word and staggers behind me to his sister’s room.
Picking up my daughter who is five years old, into my arms, I wrap the blanket around all three of us as we make our way, quickly to the car. The neighborhood is quiet this time of night. The air is cool and damp, and I’m thankful that I grabbed the quilt. Nervously I scan the street. No cars, no movement.
Telling my son to buckle-up himself and his sister, I put the children into the back seat of the car, and throw the quilt over them for warmth. One more glance around, then I slide into the driver’s seat and begin to pull out of the driveway.
At first I think, “don’t turn on headlights.” Reconsidering, I turn on the headlights. With adrenaline racing I begin to zigzag through the neighborhood, hoping he was not zigzagging in the same way.
A quick right, and another, “go the speed limit, don’t bring attention to yourself”, I think.
Then I see headlights of a car coming toward me, moving slowly. Fear grabs me so completely, knives begin stabbing my chest.
“Oh God, Oh God, Is that him?”
The headlights were coming closer. A wave of nausea washes over me from the adrenaline and fear. “Do I speed up or stay steady?” Like a flash of lightning, my mind remembers a Bible verse I learned long ago. “Fear not, I am with you.” Taking a deep breath I try to stay steady.
“ I sure hope so.” I whisper.
The car passes slowly beside me. The windows are dark, preventing anyone from seeing inside the car. I watch the car pass and slowly continue down to the corner where it pauses longer than necessary, then continues on.
The children and I made it to a hotel; all three of us climb into the bed together. my daughter snuggled in on one side of me and my son was close on the other. We left the corner lamp on as we tried to sleep.
The lingering effects of adrenaline kept me wide-awake, giving me time to try to make sense of the past hour. Like loose paper in a windstorm, my thoughts swirled through my mind, as my finger outlined the squares on my grandmother’s quilt.
She had given it to me as a wedding present many years before. Grandmother, was a woman of great faith and courage. Her husband had left her, making it necessary to raise four children by herself.
My finger stops on a yellow square in the corner of the quilt. Why had I not seen the blue threads on the yellow square before? Maybe I had, and forgotten. But there was written in blue, “Fear not, for I am with you. Is. 41:10”
Like a small treasure hidden in time, to be found at this moment. Did Grandmother know this day would come? Or was it simply her favorite verse that carried her through her own nights of terror?
God knows the plans He has for us, and He prepared a way for escape and restoration if we will simply come to Him, trusting that He loves us and wants our lives to reflect His love to the rest of the world.
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wow that must have been a terrible night. The fear and the torment. I hope it was just a ‘prank’ call and you didn’t have more issues later. Kind of feels like I am hanging waiting for the next part of the story.
God is good, and His mercies endure, forever. Amen. There is nothing more, except to add my love for your brave heart and your faithfulness.
Peace and good to you in Jesus’ name.
Thank you, Chelle, precious encourager! God is good all the time…even in the dark.
Wow! Terrifying. Thank of for warnings and test of faith. You could have easily just stayed, especially with two young children, and hoped for the best. But you trusted in The Lord. You are brave, strong and compassionate, because of your life experiences of messy, hurt and jubilee.
Thank you Diane for sharing.
Blessings.
God sees what we cannot, for all I know, it was literally an angel on the other end of the phone that night.
Wow, Diane surely your grandma and the Holy Spirit were with you that night.
She was impressive, Jennifer. With only a fourth grade education, she made quilts to earn money.
Oh, Diane. This is just hell on wheels and I am so sorry this was your reality for a while. And so glad it no longer is! Thank God for faithful grandmothers, for scripture at just the right time and for anonymous phone calls that save lives.
Diana, God does works in some strange ways. And, what was meant for evil, God has used it for His own glory. I don’t like to talk about those dark days, but God has placed it on my heart to tell a few things. There is one more post coming and then I think i will use these examples in talks I do instead of blogging about it. I’m so glad you all did well through the hurricane! <3 ~Di
Whoa, Diane. The tales you could tell… Thank God for whoever alerted you, and praise Him for keeping you guys safe through so many storms.
Great, powerful post, girl!
Love you!
And you, Susan know more than most about my crazy life! Thank you for loving me, anyway! Love ya, Susta!
wow! what an amazing story. thank you for sharing.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting, Richelle!
So glad we can literally pull Him up like a blanket and He can shelter us from harm. He surely was your Great Protector that night. What a Mighty God we serve! Thank you for sharing. ♥
yes, Nannette, He is a protective cozy blanket. It is so nice to meet you!
Thank you Nannette for stopping by, it’s so nice to meet you!
What a testimony to God’s faithfulness and to a legacy devoted to the One who will not let us go! Thanks for sharing that. My heart was in my throat as I read.
I’m your neighbor over at Michelle’s today. Nice to “meet” you!
Laura, It is great to meet you. God is faithful even when I was running for my life and didn’t even think about really praying…He was and is still there.
Nice to meet you as well, Laura, thank you for stopping and leaving a commment!…and I know the feeling of being out numbered- Oh, how I know! And, in all things, God is good!
Thanks be to God for protecting you and your children that night. I’m so sorry you had to endure that, but I’m thankful the Playdates list led me here. Someone I love lives in fear of extracting her children in such a night, and it encourages me to read the way God intervened to protect you and calmed your heart. Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus. Praise to Him for granting you forgiveness grace for such deep wounds.
Hi Tinuviel, Thank you for coming by and commenting. I have prayed for you loved one. Sadly this is a life many divorced mothers must face. People like you in their life praying, encouraging and being there, makes a huge difference.
An amazing story with so much to be thankful for in the midst of the fear. Thanks for sharing Gods faithfulness and protection … A truth to be reminded of everyday! Stopping over from Hear It on Sunday.
Thank you Becky for stopping by. It’s so nice to meet you! yes, HE IS Faithful!
Thank you for sharing your story. You gripped me from the beginning and then you left me hanging. Write a book…??? 🙂
The realization occurred to me today how much God is all in our business. I love the confirmations He leaves us daily. I wonder how many we really miss.
Hi J.jaclyn It is so nice to see you here! A book? hummmm, I don’t know. I hinted at some of these things in my first book String of Pearls.
His mercy is new everyday…and sometimes in the middle of the night.
I am so sorry for that difficult part of your story, Diane. What a gift your grandmother left for you, friend.! I”m so glad you are here, safe and sound and happy.
Laura, I am now in a place where I can thank God for it all. I can now show others, that God used for Good, what the enemy wanted for destruction. Thank you for stopping by!
Oh, He tucked you under His wing and whispered love to you. I have chills. Such a testimony of His covering. He loves to show Himself strong on behalf of His people!!!