A member church of the Baptist Union of Great Britain

A member church of the Baptist Union of Great Britain
Dear Friends,
Sometimes, I
come across a
story that is just
so amazing, that I feel I need to share
it with you. I hope you enjoy reading
this true story simply called,
‘God scent’.
A cold March wind danced around the
dead of night in Dallas as the doctor
walked into the hospital room of
Diana Blessing. Still groggy from
surgery, her husband David held her
hand. That afternoon, complications
had forced Diana, only 24-weeks
pregnant, to undergo an emergency
caesarean to deliver the couple’s new
daughter, Danae Lu Blessing.
At 12 inches long and weighing only
one pound and nine ounces, they
knew she was perilously premature.
Still, the doctor’s soft words dropped
like bombs. “I don’t think she’s going
to make it,” he said. “There’s only a
10-percent chance she will live
through the night, and even then, her
future could be a very cruel one.”
Numb with disbelief, David and Diana
listened as the doctor described the
devastating problems Danae would
likely face if she survived. She would
never walk; she would never talk; she
would probably be blind; she would
c e rta i nly be pro ne t o o t he r
catastrophic conditions from cerebral
palsy to complete mental retardation;
and on and on.
“No! No!” was all Diana could say.
She and David with their 5 year-old
son Dustin, had dreamed of the day
they would become a family of four.
Now, in a matter of hours, that dream
was slipping away.
“David said that we needed to talk
about making funeral arrangements,”
Diana remembers, “I felt so bad for
hi m be c a us e he wa s do i ng
everything, trying to include me, but I
just couldn’t listen.” I said, “No, that is
not going to happen, no way! I don’t
care what the doctors say. Danae is
not going to die! One day she will be
just fine, and she will be coming
home with us!”
Danae clung to life with the help of
every medical machine and marvel
her miniature body could endure but
as those first days passed, a new
agony set in for David and Diana.
Because Danae’s underdeveloped
nervous system was essentially
“raw,” the lightest kiss or caress only
intensified her discomfort – so they
couldn’t even cradle their tiny baby
girl against their chests. All they could
do was to pray that God would stay
close to their precious little girl.
As the weeks went by, she slowly
gained weight and strength. When
Danae turned two months old, her
parents were able to hold her. Two
mo nt hs lat er, t ho ugh docto rs
continued to warn that her chances of
survival-much less living a normal
life-were next to zero, Danae went
home, just as her mother had
predicted.
Five years later, Danae was a petite
but feisty young girl. She showed no
signs of any
mental or
Physical
impairments.
But this happy
ending is far
from the end
of her story.
(see next page)
One blistering summer afternoon, Danae
was sitting in her mother’s lap watching
her brother’s baseball team practice. As
always, Danae was chattering non-stop
with her mother.
IS IT TRUE?
Yes - Danae's mother has confirmed
the accuracy of the account.
Danae was born on 10th March 1991.
Hugging her arms across her chest, Danae's mother wrote in August 2000,
"Danae is now a lively, beautiful, active,
Danae asked, “Do you smell that?”
free-spirited, blissful, God-loving fourthDetecting t he a pproac h of a grader. She is in the Gifted and
thunderstorm, Diana replied,
Talented program. Still petite, but
“Yes, it smells like rain.”
growing daily. She loves to play 'active'
Still caught in the moment, Danae shook sports. Soccer, softball, basketball. She
her head, patted her thin shoulders with had taken gymnastics and loved it but
her small hands and loudly announced, decided to stick with the more
“No, it smells like Him. It smells like aggressive sports. She swims like a
God when you lay your head on His little fish. She loves all animals and has
chest.”
several of her own.”
Tears blurred Diana’s eyes as Danae "Danae has a compassion for other
then hopped down to play.
people that I have never witnessed with
He r
da ug ht e r’ s
another child and I work with children
words
confirmed
daily. She is a pure joy to be around
what the Blessing
and is NEVER at a loss for words.
family had known all
When I first began getting response
along. During the
from her story I was startled. I quickly
first two months of
realised that God was working his
life,
when
her
magic. I praised him for allowing me to
nerves were too
be blessed in such a way that I see his
sensitive for them to
well doings each and every day. My
touch her, God was
husband and I decided that if sharing
holding Danae on
Danae's story touched even one
His chest, and it is
person, than that is what was meant to
His loving scent that
be. I know now that it has touched
she remembers
many, many and continues everyday.
so well.
Hopefully it will continue to spread the
news of God's love.
I find this is a truly inspiring story but
recognise that, for some, it may stir up "I knew when I first saw Danae that she
painful memories of a similar situation could not and would not be contained.
where the outcome has been less She screamed to be shared. So, I
successful. All I can say to you is that painfully acknowledged the fact that she
God loves all his children and that would not be mine alone. Danae has a
includes you and me. He always seeks lot to give. This story is only the
to hold us close to him.
beginning. I am excited to imagine all
If you would like to talk to me about this the lives that will be touched even now
or anything else, I’m available on 01844 that they know it is true!
346957.
Sincerely,
God bless,
Diana Blessing-Luckiest Mom on Earth!
Val
What’s on at Kimble Free Church?
Our Sunday Services are at 11am and we seek to provide something for children
and adults alike. We give a very warm welcome to any visitors. A Family (All-Age)
service is on the 3rd and 5th Sunday of each month. If you are new to the village or
would like more information about us then please contact our pastor, Val Pyper on
01844 346957.
Thursday 19th August - 3pm - Reminiscence Group - a friendly and lively group
for the over 60’s. Please contact Val on 01844 346957.
Saturday 14th August at midday - Village BBQ being hosted
by the churches in Kimble. All are welcome but we need to
know numbers attending so we can cater for everyone. There is
no set charge but donations will be VERY gratefully accepted.
Please bring own drinks and glasses. Alcohol is permitted.
Please contact Val on 01844 346957 or email
‘[email protected]’ with numbers attending.
We need to know by 9th August latest.
Sunday 5th September 7-8pm justworship.
An occasional evening event with live music allowing us to meet
with God in an informal relaxed manner. We want to provide a
space where we can listen to what God is saying and respond
appropriately. There will be no pressure to do anything - you don’t
have to sing - you don’t have to pray – just turn up and spend some
quality time seeking and communicating with God!
There is no Arts and Crafts, T4U, Bible study or Koolkidz this month.
Frayed or Afraid
There is a story about a monastery perched high on a cliff several hundred feet in
the air. The only way to reach the monastery was to be suspended in a basket
which was pulled to the top by several monks who pulled and tugged with all their
strength. Obviously the ride up the steep cliff in that basket was terrifying. One
tourist got exceedingly nervous about half-way up as he noticed that the rope by
which he was suspended was old and frayed. With a trembling voice he asked the
monk who was riding with him in the basket how often they changed the rope. The
monk thought for a moment and answered brusquely, "Whenever it breaks."
Perception
Three people were visiting and viewing the
Grand Canyon - an artist, a pastor and a
cowboy. As they stood on the edge of that
massive abyss, each one responded with a
cry of exclamation.The artist said, "Ah, what a
beautiful scene to paint!" The minister cried,
"What a wonderful example of the handiwork
of God!" The cowboy mused,
"What a terrible place to lose a cow!"
Holy stamp
A Woman went to the Post Office
to buy some stamps.
"What Denomination?"
Asked the clerk.
"Oh, my goodness! Have we
come to this?" said the woman.
"Well give me 50 Baptist and 50
Catholic!”