Our family was pretty ordinary we did all the regular things, skating and tobogganing in winter, swimming, and picnics at the park in summer. We had all the regular family get togethers at holidays and always ate Sunday Dinner at the table. We taught the children to believe in God and prayer but mostly we just loved our four children and each other.

I thought we were doing everything right, until our second oldest son became a teenager; he was very rebellious and changed into a stranger before our eyes. By the time he was twenty he was remorseful and tried to find himself, in doing so he rejected our simple faith and  joined a cult like organization, then changed his name and moved to another country.

We were devastated it felt like a piece had been ripped out of the heart of our Family. Years literally went by, he would call sometimes and write in reply to our letters but they were the words of a stranger.

Most people believed he would never leave this group, but I prayed and prayed and believed that God would bring him home. Even though I kept my faith, I had many hard days when I cried until there were no tears left. My husband found it easier not to talk about him and I felt so alone. One particular day at my lowest I drove by myself to a fast food restaurant parking lot and sat drinking my coffee in the car by myself. I felt so alone and sorry for myself

I had no one to talk to who could understand my heartbreak. I said Lord I give you all my children but I believe you are faithful and you will bring him home. Just then I looked up and saw a small sparrow land on the hood of my car and I heard as clear as anything a verse from an old gospel song “His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me” The overwhelming sorrow lifted from me. So I asked everyone I could to pray that my son would come home and told them I knew he would. It took twelve long years but he finally came home. That year we had the best Christmas reunion ever. He is now a short drive away from us with his wife of two years and a new baby. I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness to my family.