Ali has an absolutely precious Sunday School teacher named Miss Bobbie. She is about my parent’s age, has grandkids the age of my kids, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
…yet she still has the energy, somehow, to wrangle and teach a group of four year olds every other Sunday – and constantly be bubbling over with joy, loving every minute of it.
She has taken on her cancer and resulting chemotherapy as a mission field – she is constantly looking for ways to share God’s love with all of the other people that are with her receiving hours of chemo treatments.
As part of this mission, she uses her Sunday School craft time to allow the kids to write letters and draw pictures for the other chemo patients. She has an amazingly organized system – she hands out the cards, remembers who got which child’s card, remembers a fact about that patient, and then writes that patient’s name and information on an index card to send home with our kids to pray for.
Miss Bobbie’s love for people both humbles and inspires me.
We’ve been praying for Miss Judy Green for several weeks. Ali has enjoyed making cards for her and never forgets to pray for her before bed. She probably doesn’t understand the term “cancer”, but she does understand that Miss Judy Green is sick, that her cards make her happy, and that her prayers make a difference.
A couple of weeks ago, I got an unexpected box in the mail from Build-A-Bear. They occasionally send me items to review to see if I’m interested in giving them away here, or just to give to Ali to try out. But this time, they sent me a stuffed teddy bear as a part of their love.hugs.smiles. campaign, and all they wanted me to do was give it to someone who could use a smile – no strings attached.
Immediately, I thought of Miss Judy Green.
Then I dismissed it as silly – what grown woman wants a child’s toy?
Upon further deliberation, though, I decided that it would be good for Ali, so we set out decorating the “Bear Condo”.
Ali literally spent hours painstakingly and perfectionistically coloring the box.
She wrote “Miss Judy Green” across the top,
And, even though she’d been working on it for a week, she still put the last finishing touches on it right before we walked out the door for church.
She really wanted to take the bear to the hospital and march it into Miss Judy Green’s room, but I did my best to explain that we couldn’t do that. So she delivered the bear to Miss Bobbie, and then began the impatient wait for Miss Judy Green to receive her gift.
One week went by, but Miss Bobbie only teaches every other week. Two weeks went by, and she couldn’t wait to ask Miss Bobbie, “Did you give my bear to Miss Judy Green??”
“No, not yet – I haven’t seen her again.”
On Monday afternoon, Ali and I received a phone call from Miss Bobbie.
She had chemo that morning (and still amazingly had the sound of boundless energy). When she arrived, she had asked the nurse if she could get Miss Judy Green’s mailing address. As there are hundreds of people in and out of the chemo treatment room, she doubted that she would run into her again.
The nurse skeptically said that she would have to contact the patient, ask for permission, and get back to her later.
I have a feeling that Miss Bobbie’s exuberance may have pushed the nurse into starting the process right then. And as she was checking for her contact information, she said, “I’ve got better news: She’s going to be receiving her treatments with you today!”
As it turned out, she was sitting directly across from Bobbie. She explained her delivery and gave the bear to Miss Judy Green.
…who happens to be a retired elementary school teacher and adores children.
…and who happens to collect teddy bears.
Divine appointment.
Her face lit up as she told Miss Bobbie that she would be sleeping with the bear that very night, and she was going to name him ChemoBear – she needed a new friend to help lift her spirits during this time.
As Bobbie told me this story and relayed Miss Judy Green’s excitement and emotion over her gift, I realized that none of it had been accidental.
Ali had not accidentally gotten assigned to pray for Miss Judy Green.
Build-A-Bear had not accidentally sent me a bear to give to anyone I wished.
I did not accidentally think of Miss Judy Green.
Miss Judy Green had not accidentally been scheduled to get chemo on Monday, directly across from Bobbie.
ChemoBear was meant for her, because God doesn’t just like to do huge things in our lives – He goes out of His way to orchestrate multiple people, events, and even corporations just to send tiny reminders of His grace and His love right when we need it the most.
And the privilege of Him allowing Ali to be a part of that gift and see how she can touch other people’s lives – what a priceless treasure.
Got a little teary with this – what a beautiful example of God’s awesomeness! I went through cancer treatments ten years ago and an acquaintance from high school delivered a box of 30 wrapped presents to get me through the first month of chemo. I have never forgotten it. It meant a lot because it wasn’t from someone I “expected” to do something nice for me. I bet Miss Judy Greene felt the same way.
PS – I love Ali’s writing.
That is so awesome!! Now I want to make 30 presents for someone. That would take some amazing creativity!
no coincidences… ever…..
Love this. Definitely no coincidences. No accidents. Just a beautiful story written by God.
*sniff…..how God orchestrated is that?!?!
Very cool.
That was beautiful. God brings us so much love and grace in the most precious and unexpected ways. So many miracles. Thank you for sharing this. Thank you for teaching sweet Ali how to let the Lord use her to be a blessing to others.
Stupid pregnancy hormones, I’m crying on my keyboard! Actually, I bet I would’ve teared up even without them. Such a sweet story (and now thru your blog a great way to remind Ali of it when she’s older!) and amazing how God worked all that out. =)
Yes! And better yet, Ali just got a Thank You note from Miss Judy Green. In the note, she asked Ali, “How did you know that I collect bears?” – – Ali and I were able to talk about that she didn’t know, but God did. She also sent Ali some stickers with the thank you note, so we talked about how God knew she loved stickers, even though Miss Judy Green didn’t. Which was probably not true, because I’ve never met a four year old girl who DIDN’T love stickers and probably neither has Miss Judy Green, but it was a great learning moment nevertheless!!! :)
Wow. Wow. WOW. God just rocks our socks right off, doesn’t He? Amazing. And beautiful.
He does!! I love reminders like these.
What a sweet sweet story.
What a beautiful story… brought tears to my eyes. Amazing how God can work if we’ll just get out of the way already! :)
Beautiful. You brought tears to my eyes!! Nothing God does is an accident!!
Precious indeed. Wonderful, touching story, Rach.
Thanks for sharing that…even if I am crying right before I go to bed! :-)
Beautiful story.
Thank you for sharing this. I love hearing and seeing examples of how God orchestrates things, and it never ceases to amaze me that the God of the universe cares about the tiny details of our lives. What an awesome God we serve! I think it is also God-orchestrated that you wrote this — Think of all of the people who will read this and begin praying for Miss Bobbi and Miss Judy Green.
love it. this is such a great post Rachel.
I’m in tears too. Everything happens for a reason. :)
Big hugs to you and Ali!!!
BEAULTIFUL!!! my supervisor at work is going thru chemo. she told our department a few months ago that she had breast cancer. she has been a trooper and worked almost everyday. everyday I get up and don’t want to come to work I think about her. if she can I can —so I just get myself up and go.
Our God is an awesome…….
I think this is my favorite post you’ve ever written. God is so good!
Awesome story, Rachel!
What an awesome orchestration of God’s love! I love it when He does stuff like that!!!
Awww, this got me all teary eyed! He works in our lives on big things and small. I’m glad BABW tweeted about your story to give others a chance to read it!
One of your best stories ever. It does bring tears to your eyes and the amazing way our God works.
Tears! I LOVE stories like this. I also love to sit back and think over parts of my life where God has orchestrated the events to work out just as they should have. It’s always so humbling, and a great way to start up a conversation about God’s love and omnipotence to someone who may need it. Thank you for sharing!
So true! God’s stories of grace and love are just as powerful when retold and retold!!
You are so right. It was one of God’s divine interventions. Can you imagine God’s smile every time sweet Ali lifts her up in prayer?
Yes! This reminds me of the “Heaven Is For Real” book I read a couple of months ago – I love how Jesus explains prayer to the little boy in that book!!
I know part of it is probably pregnancy hormones, but I am totally teary-eyed after reading this story. Thanks so much for sharing — isn’t it cool how we can sometimes unknowingly be the ‘hands’ and ‘feet’ of the kingdom? So neat that Ali got to share in this experience!
It is – God’s grace to let us be a part of His work is just awesome!!
I have been on vacation and just now catching up on my blog reading. Wow what an amazing story. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason and not by chance. God is amazing and works in amazing ways and this is just evidence of that. Thanks for sharing.
Wow…thank you so much for sharing this. I have a feeling this post will have a ripple effect of people who will chose to not dismiss the quiet stirrings from the Lord. It’s amazing when you realize you’ve participated in a heavenly matter, isn’t it? God is so awesome to let us in on His blessings. :)
He really is!! He does that for our good, I’m convinced – He can do cool things without us, but to let us be a part and experience it is just as valuable for us as the person He’s blessing!
This is a wonderful story on so many levels. Miss Bobbi is my new hero.
She’s one of mine, too!!
Oh my goodness, I’m smiling, crying, and covered in goosebumps. I love stories like these. Also, the picture of Ali coloring the bear condo is so sweet. She is really putting a lot of work into coloring for someone. She is such a sweetheart and you and Chris are doing a wonderful job of parenting!
Thank you!! That wasn’t us – it was a total God opportunity!!
Hi! I got to your blog through Kelly’s Korner where people listed their favorite blogs. I am a cancer survivor-6 rounds of chemo-and I love this post. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!! I am glad you found me – welcome!!
God is Awesome! It’s so cool to just sit back and see Him work!
AMEN. I say all the time that I believe God cares about the little things!
So amazing how He used you and your little girl to do this!