A Treasury of Miracles for Women Read Online Free PDF

wore rain jackets and had pulled the hoods over their heads to stay dry.
    “If we don't get this fire ignited, we can forget dinner,” Kathy said. She wiped the sweat from her brow. Jason still stood awkwardly over the fire holding the open umbrella and advising her where to ignite the newspaper while their oldest son continued his search for kindling.
    Luke and Megan glanced at each other and then at the gray skies above. Then Luke motioned for her to follow him and headed toward the woods.
    “Where are you guys going?” Kathy stood up and stretched her back.
    “We have to do something,” Luke said. “We'll be right back.”
    Kathy watched them for a moment longer and nodded. “All right. Don't go too far.”
    “We won't.” Megan smiled and then the two contin ued walking. Five minutes later they returned and took seats near the fire pit. They grinned at each other and glanced upward.
    At about that time, the rain stopped. Jason took down the umbrella and stared at the sky. “Doesn't look like it's getting any clearer, but as long as it's stopped raining I think we can get the fire going.”
    Not long afterward, the fire pit was blazing and the Hesters gathered around to warm their hands and bodies. Suddenly Kathy remembered the children's brief disappear ance.
    “Megan,” she asked, taking a seat next to her daughter, “why did you and Luke go off into the woods?”
    The girl smiled sweetly. “Well, we saw how the grown ups couldn't get the fire started and we knew we needed a fire in order to have dinner.” She smiled peacefully. “We didn't want to starve to death.”
    “No.” Kathy shook her head and waited for Megan to continue.
    “So Luke said we should go into the woods and pray about the rain.”
    A sinking feeling settled over Kathy's stomach. “Pray about it?”
    “Yes, Mommy. We went off and asked God to please stop the rain so we could build the fire. Then we could have dinner and everything would be fine.”
    It had happened again.
    First last night during the storm and now with the rain. Tw o adults, both strong in their faith, both firm believers in God and the power of prayer, had worked for three hours trying to build a fire in the rain. They had used kindling and pine needles, newspaper and tree bark. They had held an umbrella over the wood and blown on dying sparks until they were completely winded.
    They'd done everything except pray—the one thing that their young children had chosen to do.
    “He heard us, Mommy,” Megan said matter-of-factly. “We asked God to stop the rain and when we got back here the rain stopped.”
    “Whatever made you think about praying, Megan, honey?” Kathy asked gently, brushing her nose against Megan's smaller one.
    “You and Daddy always say if you have a problem, take it to God in prayer,” Megan said and shrugged. “Isn't that right?” Kathy grinned and brushed aside her daughter's blonde bangs.
    Kathy thought of the gloomy way she'd been feeling and how she'd considered her problems too insignificant for God. “It sure is, Megan. Thanks for helping me remem ber.”
    Despite the gray sky, no rain fell on the campsite until after nine o'clock that evening, when the fire was out and the family was climbing into their tents for the night.
    The rain continued again through the night and let up only long enough for them to pack their camping gear and prepare for the trip back home. On the way out, they asked the ranger about the rain.
    “Never let up all day yesterday,” the ranger said. “Made for a dismal camping trip, I guess.”
    “At least it stopped at dinnertime and stayed dry through most of the evening,” Kathy said as she handed the ranger their fees.
    The ranger knit his forehead into a mass of wrinkles. “It never let up at all. Least not 'round these parts.”
    Kathy glanced at Jason. “We had about five hours without rain.”
    The ranger scratched his head and placed his hands on his hips. “Why that's the darndest thing