Granny's Gift

Luciana had been vexed with life threatening medical issues as an infant. By the age of 10, she had survived three major surgeries in two countries. For reasons known only to Him, Luciana’s loving heavenly Father, in response to the passionate prayer of her Granny, chose to preserve her. Despite living in Romania, which had been under severe communist control until 1990, Granny was a fervent believer with a gift of faith - the ability to believe in God for extraordinary deeds.

…pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous woman avails much… [James 5:16]

More than a quarter century later, Luciana herself had grown into a delightful young woman of God. Romania and Eastern Europe were in the middle of the coldest winter they had ever known. Even parts of the mighty Danube River froze solid! February 2 was the coldest night, –20 degrees C. About 5 AM that night, Granny went out to get an armful of firewood to recharge the woodstove; the only source of heat in the rural two bedroom cabin.

A few hours later, grandpa realized that the bed was getting cold, the cabin was getting cold, and the woman he married 60 years ago was no where to be found!

She had fallen outdoors with her load of firewood, breaking a hip. Unable to move, hypothermia set in pretty quickly. Only by the grace of God, Granny was still alive when they got her to the hospital. After a perilous day and night of medical care by the hospital attendants and intensive prayer by Luciana, Granny’s body temperature finally returned to normal and stabilized. A few days later major hip surgery was performed to relieve pain. However, the hospital gave her zero chance of walking ever again.

A few weeks later a weak, bedridden, and feeble-minded Granny was sent home. Her system saturated with anti-inflammatory meds, antibiotics and pain killers administered by clinical and non-caring healthcare workers, Granny’s mind had quickly become very ‘confused.’ Frequently now after the fall, she didn’t remember names, or recognize family. She didn’t even recognize the old woman staring back at her from the mirror! But she was alive and she was back at home. Her mere survival was a miracle.

Almost six months after the accident came an extremely horrible day for Luciana. She was passed over for a job promotion she had hoped for and was qualified for. Secondly, her beloved fiancé announced he was splitting with her because of a new ‘romantic interest’! And thirdly, he would soon leave Romania to be with this new woman!

With the fiancé no longer in the picture, Luciana realized she had no close friends in town to console her. At work, she frequently snuck off to the lady’s wash room to cry, and to talk to her loving heavenly Father in prayer-asking for understanding, asking for comfort asking for someone to console her. But she could think of no one.

Call unto Me…and I will show you great and mighty things you haven’t even imagined… [Jeremiah 33:3]

Luciana decided she felt like being alone after work, but remembered she had promised a few days earlier to visit Granny on her way home. At first she thought she would cancel because she really didn’t feel up to going through the motions of caring for Granny, who still needed plenty of care. But then she realized she hadn’t seen her in over a week, and figured maybe any company was better than none. Even if the only one available was a feeble-minded stranger living in what was left of her grandmother’s body. So Luciana kept her promise. She arrived at Granny’s, hiding away her sorrows and wearing her ‘brave’ face.

…perform your vows… [Nahum 1:15]

Despite Granny’s ‘new normal’ of a nearly complete lack of lucidity, she not only recognized Luciana, but she immediately asked why her beloved grand daughter was so extremely sad!!

…all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted…knowing that you were called to this… [1 Peter 3:8-9]

Therefore be merciful [compassionate], just as your Father also is merciful… [Luke 6:36]

Taken aback that she had been unable to conceal her pain, Luciana shared the despair of her heart: Being passed over for the promotion, being passed over in her love life…

Granny’s heart told her that Luciana needed right away an encouraging vision of God’s compassion, presence and power in her life…as motivation to not lose faith, but rather to continue clinging to His loving outstretched hand.

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint… [Proverbs 29:18]

Some messages are just awfully hard to put into words. So Granny rolled out of bed. And stood up for the first time since going out to get the last load of wood that frigid February night. Granny’s eyes flooded with tears of compassion when Luciana embraced her and lightly kissed her hand.

Jesus …said to them, "Go and tell…the things which you hear and see… the lame walk; ...blessed is he who is not offended because of Me… [Matt. 11:4]

On her way home, Luciana’s heart warmed with a new peace and a deeper vision of the power of God. She realized this had been their most poignant visit! She also realized she needed to focus not on her circumstances, but rather on using her own gifts, as Granny does, all the days of her life!

…My peace I give to you…let not your heart be troubled… [John 14:27]

God had literally raised up a loving and compassionate believer to encourage Luciana on her darkest day! Someone assumed to be completely incoherent and pretty much without value!  Perhaps the only person on the face of the earth Luciana might trust in her extreme despondency.

The righteous…will still bear fruit even in old age… [Psalms 92:12-14]