Having the promise in my Patriarchal Blessing that God would especially bless my children as they grew up if I tried to do my best, I trusted Him and He responded. Not too long after our new baby, Debra, came home from the hospital, I was in the living room picking up toys when a vision of a hand with a severed index finger appeared before me. Stunned with the realization that this could happen to one of my children, I asked, “Lord, what would I do?” He answered with the Still Small Voice, “Live as close to Me in obedience to My commandments as you can, so if something like this happens, I can immediately bless you.” I understood. Years before, Jesus had quoted me scripture and gave me a promise. I lived by it.

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To that promise my Lord had remained true. “When you do what I say, then I am bound,” Jesus said, and it has a powerful message. Some time passed after the vision and I had forgotten it. Judy was about a year old and Debra was nine months and eight days younger. One afternoon I was standing beside Judy’s crib. I sensed no danger even though the side was down because I was beside her. Suddenly she lunged over the rail landing upside down on the top of her head. I heard a crunching-of-bones sound, and I cringed. Her full body weight was on her neck, she twisted, and then fell over on her back screaming. I cried out to God.

“Consecrated oil,”2 came instantly into my mind, with the impression to “anoint the place where the blessing is needed and pray to God as a Mother in Israel.” I ran for it, picked Judy up in my arms and hurried to my closet to pray. Judy was still crying. I put some of the blessed oil on the back of her neck, knelt down in that small closet and prayed with everything in my heart, “Lord, I’m coming to you as a Mother in Israel to ask a blessing.” It was a simple prayer, but I meant every word and expected a blessing, not demanding, but pleading before the Creator. Judy stopped crying before my prayer was finished.

The vision of the severed finger came to mind. Never after that did any emergency of such a nature occur. I believe Judy’s neck must have been broken, for the finger was severed. She never was bothered with her neck after that, either. Such is an example of how close God really is to each of us everyday. If we believe Him, He will manifest Himself to us. And if we will try to live by every word which proceeds forth from His mouth, we will be rewarded with His constant blessings.

As Tim grew he was a great help to Melissa. There are three years between them, yet he became her ears and speech. Tim understood what she wanted when no one else did. The love between little children is so special. It is no wonder Jesus warned if any will hurt His little ones, they shall be in great danger.

I had a problem that I’m ashamed of, but I need to share it because I grew from going through it, and I wonder how many other parents are guilty of it too. By now we knew Melissa was deaf. (Her story is told in detail later, starting back at her age of four. At this point in time, Tim is five and Melissa about 8). Her deafness caused all of us to live under great pressure. At times I wanted to scream. It takes great physical and mental strength to be a good mother and when my children were little, I had neither, except for God’s sustaining grace. It was those times that there was only one set of footprints in the sands of my life, for Jesus had to carry me.

I never physically abused my children. I loved them deeply; however, by the time Melissa was about eight, I had heard her grunting “uh, uh” a million times. She couldn’t say one word. When she wanted something, or was upset, it was a loud piercing “uh.” What else could she do? But in my physical condition, by now having delivered Judy and Debra just nine months and eight days apart, both surviving and stronger than their mother, I had little to go on but raw nerves. The time came when I thought, “If I hear that “uh” one more time, I’ll scream.” If it had been a soft “uh,” it would not have had such an adverse effect, but usually it was a loud one. I was to the point of an involuntary reaction to that sound. Yet, I was able to restrain myself through my love and prayers for her. I felt guilty for my lack of ability to control my inner feelings of irritation this caused me. When I corrected my other three hearing children, I’m afraid my frustration showed in loud tones. And it was beginning to take its toll on them. I don’t like to think about it, but it must have been verbal abuse.

One night I saw Tim in a dream. I was screaming at him for something he had done and there was such sadness in his face. The Spirit told me because of my actions, Tim thought I didn’t love him and he wanted to go home to God.

Oh, the pain I felt in my heart for him when this was revealed to me. I so deeply loved my little son, words couldn’t convey, nor yet can they this day. Tim is seventeen as this testimony is being shared, and he always has been only a blessing in this household. Oh, how I repented for my loss of patience. I pleaded with God for help and He answered in a way which totally caused me to stand in awe. This is what happened.

One afternoon I was in the bedroom painting at my easel—I freelanced painting greeting cards to help pay the bills. Judy, my three-year-old, was leaning out the window talking to a neighbor girl. I was thinking about the noise Melissa makes and how it was affecting me in my ability to raise our children. I felt that I was a terrible mother and wanted to do better. I decided to lay the matter before God in prayer. I thought, “I’m going to ask Him what kind of a mother I am.” No sooner had I settled this in my mind than the little neighbor girl spoke up to me. “Mrs. Harrington,” she said, “You are a good mother to Melissa. A lot of times parents are mean to their deaf children.” I stared at her unable to speak. Immediately she resumed talking to Judy. I don’t know if she even knew what she had said, but I knew. God had heard my inward cries for help. He was watching over us as a true Shepherd would. Oh, how I loved Him!

My actions, because of Melissa’s actions, had caused a reaction in my son. He had begun throwing temper tantrums. After the dream in which I saw him so sad, I prayed for understanding of how to help him. I was impressed to firmly discipline him, and balance it with an equal amount of love. I was told that regardless of what happened during the day, to make sure my children received some form of love each day, whether it was a pat on the head, a bear hug, a loving word of encouragement, just something of myself given in love, and they would grow straight and strong. I tried it and it worked. In no time, Tim’s tantrums stopped.

For an example of how to love a child, read the testimony of the tired-busy mother whom God nudged a little through her child's drawings.

 Children Learn What They Live


If a child lives with criticism, He will learn to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives in security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives in acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.
Author Unknown

Footnotes
1. Sickness is the result of sin (Jesus didn't tell me whose sin. Sin can be social evils we live in as well as personal sins. We live in a society where we are subject to great amounts of stress as well as environmental pollutions which destroy us. Stress is known to cause many ailments, including cancer.) (Isa. 33:24); Sin is the transgression of the law (I John 3:4)

2. Consecrated Oil - Olive oil is blessed by the elders and used for anointing preceding prayer. (James 5:14-15)