I’m big on keeping your word.  Don’t say it if you ain’t gonna do it.  I promised Lib I that I would use our home in Gladys as the Healing Place it had been to both of us to bless the next woman, and I intended to keep that promise.

You see, Lib hadn’t been the only woman to do something like that for me.  And to whom much is given, much is required.  I had more than one reason to pay it forward and help someone in need.  That’s another story of God’s grace and provision, but I’ll save it for another post.

Healing was slow as molasses in winter for me, so I figured I had a long time before the next “someone in need” would come along.  Little did I know, the opportunity was going to present itself just a few months later.

Sitting in my cubicle one snowy day early in 2010, reconciling accounts and singing to my country music Pandora station with my earbuds, (and probably driving the other accountants crazy), I got a Facebook message from my friend Tracy in Washington, DC. A dear friend of hers had a daughter who was a freshman at Liberty, and they just found out she was pregnant. This girl had to get out of the dorm, and she didn’t want to go to the Godparent’s Home, where girls who are pregnant can go to finish school and get maternity classes and childcare.  Tracy wondered if I knew anyone who could help. They didn’t want her to lose the semester she had just started.

As soon as I read the message, I knew I had to help her. I’d spent years ministering to teenagers, and they will always have a special place in my heart.  Even though my little house only had 3 bedrooms, and ONE bath, technically I had the room. Kaitlyn had continued to live with her roommates in an apartment (my independent, “I can do it myself!” daughter), and Lindsey preferred to sleep with her Mama every night. (Even after she got married, I had to tell Lindsey NO she wasn’t sleeping with me, and to go sleep with her husband — if I’m lyin’, I’m dyin’. After I was the one who got married, I STILL had to tell her she couldn’t sleep with me! Some things never change!).  I went back to Greensboro on weekends to stay with Daniel more than he came to Gladys, so we had space for her.  It wasn’t the Waldorf, but it was clean, safe and warm.  My mind was made up.  This girl was coming to live with us.

One of the greatest joys I had while working at Liberty was having my girls come have lunch with me, or just swing by to say hello in between classes.  I had big news this time!

Guess what?  A pregnant freshman is moving in with us!  No, I don’t know her, didn’t know she existed until while ago. I have no idea what she’s like, don’t know anyone in her family, or how she even looks. Won’t this be fun? 

My kids know their Mama.  I doubt they were the least bit surprised.  Thankfully, my children all three have hearts to care for others.  They were ready to do what they needed to do to help as well.

The next day, I met Leah, this scared 18 year old girl from a big city, and her very concerned mom, Kim. My mother’s heart broke for Kim.  She was a strong woman, and she bravely trusted the Lord to take care of her little girl, even when she couldn’t be there. And the day after that, Leah and her precious unborn child moved in with us.

I can’t imagine how she felt, moving way out in the country (and I mean WAAAAYYY out) with someone she’d just met the day before. If you know me, you know I’m a hugger (and a kisser!). But I knew Leah needed her space.  Morning sickness will kick your butt, and it’s even worse when you’re young and alone.  I tried to cook her things she might could eat, and it seemed I was always boiling a ginger root to help with her nausea.  I’m a born nurturer, but she also had two nursing students, and my future son in law, Dan, a premed student, ready to look after her if she would let us.

One night as I was reading in bed, Leah came in, fear in her eyes, and softly said, “I’m spotting.”  We lived next to the Gladys Fire Department and Rescue Squad (which I think consists of 5 volunteers), and in no time, I was following her in the ambulance to Lynchburg General Hospital.  All night long, I kept vigil by her bed.  As the sun was coming up, we headed back home, tired and worn out, but with the tiny baby still safe in her mother’s womb. I had been praying for a way to show Leah I loved her and would take care of her, and I thanked God for giving it to me.

After that, she started to warm up to us.  She would ride to school with Lindsey, who would pull over to let her throw up, and would even let her drive so she wouldn’t feel so carsick.  Leah started coming out of her room, eating with us, and joining us to watch all the seasons of Friends on DVD since we didn’t have cable.  That little city girl was learning how to live in the country.  Before long, we were no longer strangers, we were family.

We all look back on that ordeal as precious time where God’s grace, providence, provision and direction were so clear.  Leah became, and continues to be, my other daughter, and sister to my girls. We laughed and loved, played games and watched Friends. After the semester was over, Leah went back to DC to be cared for by her parents, and they welcomed the most beautiful baby girl in the world, sweet little Emma. Leah is now happily married, and has two more precious daughters. She is such a good mother, following in Kim’s footsteps — Leah learned from the best.

I remain grateful that Kim shared Leah with us for that semester. Leah gave me more than I gave her. She gave me the chance to pay it forward, to continue making a Healing Place, to add someone else to our family.  Most importantly, I was afraid God was finished with me, that He wouldn’t use me anymore, that I was damaged goods, and useless to the Kingdom.  Leah proved me wrong.

Let me encourage you — if you feel sad and alone, give to someone who is sad and alone. Take your eyes off of your hardship and pour into another who needs love. Don’t close yourself off.  Be open to opportunities to bless someone. Mark my words, you’ll find you are the blessed one in the end.  God promises it to us in Luke 6:38,

Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.

My life stories won’t necessarily be in chronological order. I may go back and forth as the inspiration strikes me, but I’ll try not to be confusing! For today, I’ll pick up where I left off at getting my job at Liberty University.

Commuting two hours each way to Lynchburg got old right quick like. I did it every day for months, sometimes staying with fellow accountant and new friend Nora a few nights a week.  Eventually, I started to think it would be best to get a house in Lynchburg for the girls to live with me if they wanted, and I could go home to Greensboro on weekends until my son graduated. I truly struggled with finding the balance of where I was supposed to be when, and how to do what was best for all of them. It was simply impossible to be two places at one time.

One of my coworkers recommended a good real estate agent named Karl, and I arranged to go with him to look at some cute little houses I found on the internet. I could buy a house for a cheaper payment than I could rent one, so off to look at properties we went.

As soon as the first house came into view, it was glaringly apparent the pictures they had posted were taken a while ago — a LONG while ago. Evidently Fred Sanford lived there now! It looked like a salvage yard, and since I smelled the refrigerator before I walked in the kitchen, ain’t no way this clean freak was living there. NEXT!!

Standing outside this colossally disappointing landfill, Karl said there had been a property just posted that day. It might be another waste of time, but the pictures showed a clean, well maintained house. It was a ways out of town, but that was fine by this country girl. City living makes me nervous. And actually a bit nauseous.

When I pulled into the gravel driveway of that little farmhouse in Gladys, VA, I melted. I loved it before I walked inside. The yard. The trees. It was built in 1910 and had 9 1/2 ft ceilings, original heart pine floors and three porches. I wanted this house. Shoot fire, y’all, I COVETED this house.

As we sat down on the couch to discuss the offer, it seemed like the appropriate time for me to explain that I had no money. I mean none. Nada. Zilch. I said, “Do you think we can ask her to pay all of the closing costs, and actually give me some money back to move with if I offer her more than she’s asking? Assuming it would appraise for enough?” He stared at me, just blinking his eyes. I could almost hear his thoughts, Fannnnntastic.  I’ve showed this lady two houses only to find out she’s nuts?

“You want me to ask her to give YOU money back?”

“Yes, you see, because I don’t have any.” Didn’t I already say I didn’t have any!? 

I waited while he let that sink in a bit. Finally he said, “Well alrighty then! You have not because you ask not! We really can’t make an offer exactly like that, but maybe she will be willing to do something for you as a side agreement between the two of you. (In other words, I don’t want to know about it!) Let’s make an offer on the house, and I’ll ask her agent to get her to talk to you about any other arrangements.” Bless poor Karl’s heart. I could tell he’d never met someone like me.

Before the night was out, the owner of my dream house accepted my real estate offer, and she wanted to meet me to discuss the personal side of my request. Maybe she just wanted to meet anyone bold enough to ask for money to move with! Why not, I thought? I had nothing to lose. If the answer was no, nothing lost. I’d come up with it somehow.

Meeting Lib was like meeting an old friend. The house had been in her family since it was built. She said God told her immediately to accept my offer and that she was to help me move. I wasn’t sure I heard her right, so I asked her to repeat what she’d said. God had told her to accept my offer, and that she was to help me?  Help me?  Oh yes, I needed help.

I’ll never forget her words, standing under the 200 year old oak tree that day:

“This house was my place of healing. I’ve met and married the love of my life. Now it is to be your place of healing as well. Your incubator. God will do for you what He did for me. And when you find your healing, use it to help another woman who needs it, too.”  

I gave her my word I would. And I kept it, as you’ll find out in my next post.

Lib not only let me buy her beautiful home, her healing place, her incubator, but she gave me both a riding mower and push mower, and every other tool I’d need to keep up two acres of land. She gave me furniture for the screened in porch, and extra furniture for the house. She showed me how to fill up the outside Taylor water stove with wood that would heat the house when winter came.

But most of all she showed me that God still loved me, that He hadn’t forgotten me, that He hadn’t moved to Kansas and left no forwarding address, that He was continuing to answer that prayer I had prayed every day for so long, asking Him to take care of me and my children . . .

Although there were many, many, dark days, even dark years, my healing was happening. It was real, unfolding before my eyes.  It wasn’t instantaneous like some people’s seemed to be.  Slow and still painful at times, but it was happening.

I don’t know what your healing place looks like, but you have one. There is a place where God wants to take you. I can’t promise He will bring you physical healing to your body (although I believe He can), but I can assure you that He wants to heal your heart, to soothe your soul, to restore the joy of your salvation. Like my healing, yours may be slow and painful, and it may not be a literal house, but your place is there, somewhere. Ask Him for it. Remember that James 4:2 says,

” . . . You do not have because you do not ask God.”

This was my healing place, my incubator.  My little Gladys farmhouse. The house that brought me some of the best memories of my life, as well as my children.

Lord, I’m crying now, as the memories of my sweet little Gladys house fill my mind. Thank You for taking care of me and my kids through Lib.  Bless her for blessing us. And I ask that You that You do the same for every broken soul reading this blog. Bring them healing for their broken hearts and lives, and give them joy unspeakable. Give them a Healing Place, Lord. Most of all, I thank You that there is enough room on Your lap for all of us.