Deliverance Is Destined

By Kay Heitsch

The struggle is real, but your deliverance is destined. ~ Watch For God's Deliverance Quotes ~

We all have struggles. Denying them isn't always healthy. But as we put our struggles in God's hands, we can watch for His deliverance.

Our Bible verse says. “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. Exodus 14:13 NIV

Our struggles are real, but we do not need to be afraid. We can stand firm and watch for God's deliverance.

The struggle is real, but your deliverance is destined.

Todd's Death (Part 3)

By Kay Heitsch  

As my thoughts raged in disbelief and refusal to accept, I also seemed to hear a quiet voice of reason.

I often thought, "Kay, you must believe and accept what has happened." As weird as it may seem, I remember silently arguing and shouting in my mind with this voice of reason. "NO, I will not believe or accept this!"

I gathered Todd's clothes, which I thought he would like to wear, and we took them to the funeral home. I remember walking around looking at caskets. There, that voice of reason was again. "If Todd is not dead, what are you doing here?" This thought would jar me back into reality.

The newspaper needed an obituary. Again, each of these was a stepping stone helping me accept Todd's death.

Believing and accepting Todd's death still took some time.

Do What You Can Today

By Kay Heitsch

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. ~ Motivational Quotes ~

We take too much for granted. We always think everything will remain the same, and we do not know what a day will hold.

We take people for granted, thinking they will always be there. We also take our health for granted. It's essential to do and say what we can today.

Our Bible verse says. Take care of today. Tomorrow is never promised. Matthew 6:34

Tomorrow is not promised. So we need to take care of today. Do and say what you can while you can.

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

Todd's Death (Part 2)

By Kay Heitsch

I was living in a haze and in a state of denial. I had a battle going on in my mind. I had never experienced anything like this before with the death of my mom or my dad. I was having a horrible time accepting that Todd had actually died. Grief will do this to you.

This could not be true, I kept telling myself. This kind of awful accident happens to other people, but not me!

My thoughts were racing. I found that I needed silence. Before, I had the radio or TV blasting, but now I wanted them off. The raging thoughts were all I could handle mentally.

The funeral home called and wanted clothes for Todd. I found myself in Todd's closet, looking at his clothes. Oh my gosh, this must be a nightmare! Why was I picking out clothes for Todd to be buried in? Was this really true? Was Todd actually dead? Silently, I was screaming, This is NOT true! I refuse to believe this!

But it was true. My Todd was dead.

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Life's Storms

By Kay Heitsch

We all experience storms in our lives. These times are not easy, and remaining calm and knowing what to do is challenging.

This happened to me. I was not calm, and I didn't know what to do when Todd died. I wanted this to be a bad nightmare, and I was going to wake up, but it wasn't. Amid the most horrible storm in my life, I found Jesus. He calmed the storm and gave me peace.

Our Bible verse says. Jesus said to the sea, “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. Mark 4:39

That day, I found Jesus. He told the storm in my life, "Be still." My mind started to relax immediately, and I became perfectly calm.

When we find Jesus in the middle of our storms, He tells the storm to "Be Still." When He does, we relax and become perfectly calm.

Todd's Death (Part 1)

 By Kay Heitsch

Grief is a complicated subject. We have perceived ideas on how we will react when we experience the death of a loved one. When we respond differently, we may think something is wrong with us.

Our feelings and reactions to each person's death may be different. I believe this is because of our relationships with each person.

Unfortunately, we may have to deal with other people's expectations on how they think we should be handling the death.

We are never prepared for our child dying.

Little did I know that when Todd walked out the back door to go sledding with his friends, it would be the last time I saw him. I remember Todd pointing at me and saying, "Later, Mom." I sure didn't know then how much later that would be.

About an hour after Todd left, I received a call about a terrible car accident. I found out later at the hospital that Todd had died. I didn't need anyone to tell me Todd had been killed because I could tell by the reactions of the people when I walked into the waiting room and gave my name.

When the doctor came into the waiting room where I was, he told me that Todd had died.

Now, if anyone had asked me how I thought I would react to my 16-year-old son dying, I would have said several things. First, I would have screamed; second, I would have fallen to the floor sobbing. Maybe I might have thought I would have fainted. I did not do any of these things. I was completely silent.

As I slowly walked out of this room, I vaguely recall seeing people lined up. I could see their sad faces, but I wasn't crying. I felt like I was in a nightmare. Everything was hazy.

Dad's Death

By Kay Heitsch

As my mom's death in my first story was a complete shock, my dad's death was prolonged.

Dad's health began to fail. He had lived an unhealthy lifestyle. He smoked and drank a lot. He ate unhealthily and was overweight. Now this lifestyle had caught up with him.

Dad found himself on oxygen daily. A doctor thought he must have cancer and suggested he go on chemo. Although there was no direct evidence that he had cancer.

I lived many hours away from Dad, so I rarely saw him. But when I did, I could see the horrible effects his poor health and chemo were having on him.

Dad battled his health issues for around 5 years. He could live at home with the help of his wonderful friends. He was able to drive and would drive himself to the hospital.

I became pregnant with Brandon during one of his last years of life. I would drive nine hours to visit and help him, knowing every rest area along the way.

I was home on February 6th when I received the call that my dad was in a coma in the hospital. I was told they would call when he passed on. Every time the phone rang, I wondered if Dad had died. I felt sick to my stomach.

All of a sudden, Brandon let out a whaling cry. The phone rang, and Dad had died.

My feelings were sadness and relief. Later, I felt like an orphan. I didn't have siblings, so now I was alone and had to accept that part of my life was over.

When To Begin

 By Kay Heitsch

God's timing is perfect. ~ Wisdom Quotes

For a few years, I've thought about writing about grief and the different ways we are affected by it. I never knew when to begin.

I try to pray for God to give me wisdom, desire, and the nudge to do whatever He wants me to do. So yesterday it seemed like I was supposed to begin. I opened a new blog, Grief Experiences, and started writing. https://kayheitsch.blogspot.com/

Our Bible verse says. Wait for the LORD; be strong, take heart, and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14 NIV

While we wait on the LORD, we can stay strong and take heart. Faith in God includes faith in His timing.

Please pray for me as I begin a new journey. Thank you!

Grief Experiences (Mom's Death)

By Kay Heitsch

We all experience grief in different ways. We experience it in the death of a loved one or even grief over situations that happen in life. All are painful in their own way.

Over my lifetime, I've experienced grief in different ways. Each situation came with its own feelings and sense of loss.

When my mother died, five days after Mother's Day. I was in my early 20s.

My Mom and I had an interesting relationship. When I was a child, we were very close. My Mom was a devout SDA. I learned a lot about legalist religion, which turned me off. But I also learned a lot about helping others, which was wonderful.

Since my Mom was considered an older mother, she talked about who I would live with when she died. So I thought about her dying quite often.

Mom taught me to drive when I was around 8 or 9 in case she or my dad would die at the wheel. I smile when I think about it now. I don't know how I would have moved either one to get behind the wheel and drive if either one had died.

Mom was scheduled to have gallbladder surgery in her 60s. She went to the hospital a few days before to have a complete check-up. She called to let me know that they told her she was as healthy as an 18-year-old girl with her numbers. That was my last conversation with her.

You can imagine my shock when the doctor called and told me that my Mom had died in the recovery room. He was sorry to say to me that the anesthesiologist had put her too far under and she never woke up.

My reaction and the feelings I experienced were much different than what I had expected. When I was a child, I had nightmares of my parents dying. I was filled with fear and sadness. But now, I was sad, but also had a feeling of freedom.

Like I said, my Mom and I had an interesting relationship later on in life. As I grew older, I didn't hold to her legalistic religious beliefs, and Mom had a hard time with that. Now that she was gone, I felt free to be myself.

My Mom thought I would be a missionary, and it irritated me to no end. But what's interesting is that many years after her death, I turned my life over to the LORD, and my personal testimony went to many countries worldwide with PLUS magazine.

When Trouble Comes

By Kay Heitsch

Faith is trusting God when you have unanswered questions. ~ Trusting God When Trouble Comes Quotes ~

Some people don't believe in God because of the trouble in the world. There are also some Christians who think that because they are Christians, they shouldn't have trouble.

We will have unanswered questions about our troubles, whether we are believers or not. When trouble comes because of people, we need to understand that people make choices that hurt others and themselves. Let your good choices override the bad.

Our Bible verse says. I have told you all this so you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT

We will have trouble in this world whether we are Christians or not. When we have trouble and unanswered questions, we can trust Jesus because He has overcome this world.

Faith is trusting God when you have unanswered questions.

Silent Mother's Day Prayer

By Kay Heitsch

This past Mother's Day, I had a silent prayer answered. I asked the Lord for a sign to show me His and Todd's love.

I have been blessed with continued friendships with many of Todd's friends. Dom and Evy have been especially close to me. In fact, I call them my two other kids.

This year, Evy was having a yard sale. Dom and Evy had not seen each other in years, but Dom and Mindy stopped over to Evy's sale.

Can you imagine my joy when they sent me a picture of them together on Mother's Day? I knew my prayer was answered.

Our Bible verse says. God listens to us and will answer us. 1 John 4: 14-15.

Yes, God listens to even our silent prayers, and He will answer in unexpected ways.

God hears even the silent prayer of a sincere heart.

Something Greater Than Any Obstacle

By Kay Heitsch

Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. ~ Motivational Quotes ~

It's essential to believe in ourselves and know that as Christians, something inside us is greater than any obstacle.

Our Bible verse tells us what that something is. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11

If the Holy Spirit lives inside us, we have His power, we know who we are, and there is no obstacle we can not overcome. Believe in yourself and all that you are.

Mother's Day Thoughts

By Kay Heitsch

Today is Mother's Day. Today, we remember our moms, and moms remember their children.

Many of us have moms who have long since passed on. We can reflect on the many special things our moms did to help us have a good life.

One special memory was when I was in the hospital for several days. My mom brought me a little wrapped gift each day to open. I don't remember what was in each gift, but these little gifts helped me get through this hospital stay.

On Mother's Day, I think of each of my children. I wish them well and pray they will be the best parents for their children. And I pray they always remember that I will always love them.

Those of us who have had a child die, Mother's Day brings back a lot of memories, too. We think of this child and the special times we had with them. It's always best on Mother's Day to remember that love never dies when we think of them.

Today's Bible verse says. Love never dies. 1 Corinthians 13: 8.

Love is eternal. It never dies. It never expires.

Your Best Investment

By Kay Heitsch

Developing a relationship with Jesus is the best investment you will ever make in your life. ~ Personal Relationship With God Quotes ~

I believe this quote with all my heart. My life was forever changed for the better when I developed a personal relationship with God through what Jesus had done for me.

I was so excited. I wanted to tell everyone what a wonderful life we have when Jesus becomes our best friend.

Our Bible verses say. When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God through Christ, who changed us from enemies into friends and gave us the task of making others His friends also. 2 Corinthians 4:17&18 GNT

When we are friends with Jesus, we have a job to do. We can help others see what a wonderful friend Jesus is and invite them to develop a one-on-one relationship with Him.

Developing a relationship with Jesus is the best investment you will ever make in your life.

Complete Faith In God

By Kay Heitsch

Faith is believing without seeing. ~ Believe Without Seeing Quotes

We don't need faith if we can see. The Bible contains many verses telling us to have faith in things unseen.

Most Spiritual lives are lived by faith; we are blessed if we live this way. You deeply trust God, even though you may not physically see the evidence immediately. Our complete faith is in God.

Our Bible verses say. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

God gives each of us the gift of faith. Let's exercise our faith and keep believing even though we may not see what we hope for now.

Faith is believing without seeing.