One of my favorite poets is
Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Her poetry is so romantic. With each sentence, I
feel the message of love. She writes from the heart and that is why I love her
poetry. Elizabeth’s beautiful Sonnets(Sonnets from the Portuguese) were dedicated to her husband,
Robert Browning. One of my favorite poems that she wrote goes like this:
"Love me, sweet, with all thou
art, Feeling, thinking, seeing. Love me in the lightest part, Love me in full being." ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Wow! She writes from the heart. There is one other poet
that I have fallen in love with. I love the poetry of Sherrill Cannon. Whenever
I have to sit in the doctor’s office or wait in the car for someone, I pull her
work out and soak in the words. Sherrill Cannon writes from the heart. Each of
her poems differ in style and form. That’s what makes them fun to read. She has
a unique and precious message for all. Her poems are
delightful.
Sherrill, an Award-Winning Author,
has great talent. One of my favorites from her book, A Dime is a Sign,is
called “A Look.” It is written in Free Verse. In this poem, she writes: Never let that look go from your eyes… the
one that stops my breath and grips my heart… That look that says “I love you” in a tone of powerful and rich
intensity. This poem is simply lovely and has deep meaning. I felt as if I
were spiritually fed. Let me give you another sample.
DREAM
Last night I dreamed a quiet dream of you:
We sat together, letting thoughts be shared;
An honest time, with many feelings bared;
With contact, as with touch my courage grew.
And as I left, into your arms I flew.
You held me close, and so I finally dared
To say, “I love you,” reveal how much I cared…
You smiled at me and said you loved me too.
And then my heart was filled with joyous peace
That comforted and left my soul refreshed;
And all my tense anxiety was eased,
For with your love and friendship I was blessed.
When I awoke and found that all was true,
I spent the morning thanking God for you!
A Dime is a Sign
Synopsis:
Sherrill S. Cannon’s book of poetry contains messages of love written through
the years in poetic form that put feelings into words. The variety of lyrical
poetry forms include: free verse, blank verse, haiku, and sonnets, while some
are just playing with words!
Synopsis:
Sherrill S. Cannon’s book of poetry: Have you ever loved, been loved, been
confused about love, or suffered from loss of love? All these feelings have
been captured and shared in the word of heartfelt poems, compiled over many
years by an award-winning author.
Sherrill S. Cannon, a former teacher and
grandmother of ten, is the author of nine acclaimed rhymed children’s books,
plus a recent award-winning book of poetry (A Penny for Your Thoughts), which
together have received 63 national and international book awards since 2011.
She also wrote seven published plays for elementary school children that have
been performed in over 25 countries. Most of her children’s books emphasize
consideration for others. Married for 58 years, she and her spouse are now
retired, live in Pennsylvania, and travel in their RV from coast to coast,
spending time with their children and grandchildren, and sharing her books
along the way!
Sherrill S Cannon,
Award-Winning Author
The books she has written are: A Dime is a Sign, A Penny for Your Thoughts, My
Little Angel, The Golden Rule, Mice & Spiders & Webs…Oh My!,
My Fingerpaint Masterpiece, Manner-Man, Gimme-Jimmy, The Magic Word,
Peter and the Whimper-Whineys, and Santa's Birthday Gift
Blogsite: http://www.sherrillcannon.com
Many people have asked me why I write in two different genres. I think it's because I love a challenge. Each genre has
different rules and challenges. The plot has to be carefully thought out before
writing a story. The writing process between romance and mystery has a completely different mind set. With romance, you plan out
the plot around the meeting of a couple. As you develop your story, an
attraction begins to grow between the characters, making the reader feel
excited that one day they're going to fall in love. You, as the reader, know
the outcome. But with a mystery, the reader is in the dark.
The author has to come
up with a plot that no one knows about until towards the end of the story and
hope they haven’t figured it out. In a mystery, you may or may not allow your
reader to know who the bad guys are, according to whether it’s a cozy mystery
or mystery/suspense. In a cozy mystery, the reader doesn’t know who the bad
guys are until the end of the book. With mystery/suspense, the reader knows who
they are and it makes for a more suspenseful outcome.
For example, in a cozy mystery,
the heroine hears someone knocking at the door. The person behind the door is a
mystery to both the reader and the heroine. Who is behind that door? In a
suspense novel, the reader knows who is behind the door and is yelling to the
heroine, “No! Don’t answer it!”
What are the secrets of
writing a mystery or mystery/suspense? First: your hero and heroine must stand
out from the others. Choose a name, personality, and build, which will distinguish
them from anyone else. Develop their personalities. Put yourself in their
shoes. During this journey, the main characters will change for the better. This
is important when developing your characters. At the end of the story, you want
the reader to throw his hands in the air and cheer for the good guys.
There are many types of
mysteries to choose from such as a cozy mystery, hard-boiled, soft-boiled, or a
thriller. What is the difference between a cozy and other mysteries? A cozy is
a slow paced story with a bit of humor but not boring by any means. It always focuses on the main
characters. As they investigate the mystery at hand, you become part of their
lives and get to know them personally. It is easy to get attached to the main
character in a cozy. This genre is supposed
to be G-rated.
With One Last Dance, I had so much fun writing it because I had to be
sneaky enough so my readers wouldn’t figure out what the treasure is or who the
bad guy was. Also, the romance had to be intriguing enough that they wouldn’t
put down the book. When Felicity meets their new neighbor, a fine-looking
bachelor, she soon discovers that he is hiding his true identity. But that is
not all. When she finds out that someone is after a valuable heirloom…a precious
treasure that her father discovered in his attic, her life takes a new turn. In
this story, I have two themes. What is the treasure and who is after it?
When I wrote the Amelia Moore Detective Series, a Romantic
Cozy Mystery, I tried to be as elusive as possible so the ending would
surprise my reader. So far, I’ve been successful. My sister-in-law told me that
I was the first author who was able to surprise her. (Whew!) In this series,
there are seven books.
When
I wrote the Intrigue Series (The
Adventures of John and Julia Evans), I chose to write a Mystery/Suspense. In
these stories, my reader knows who the villains are. This makes for a more
suspenseful story. At the same time, I added a mystery that the reader has to
figure out. Julia is a newspaper reporter and her husband John is a
professional knife maker. Because of her curiosity, Julia gets herself into a
bunch of trouble. In this mystery series, you learn about artifact theft, the Mayan
ruins, Montezuma’s treasure, and Superstition Mountain.
With The Rebel Series, a Period Mystery/Adventure Romance set
in the 1700s, I tried to remember these rules as I added a bit of mystery
to each story. Since this was a Mystery/Adventure, I had to add some
adventurous scenes to each story. At the same time, I couldn’t allow the reader
to figure out what the mystery was. I needed to surprise my readers, and hope
they would say: “I didn’t see that one coming!”
I have some rules for
writing this genre, whether it’s a romantic mystery or a mystery/suspense.
1. If you are writing a Mystery/Suspense
and are allowing your reader to know who the villain is, you must have villains
that make us shiver from their unscrupulous actions.
2. Sometime in the story,
the hero is thrown into chaos. His life may be threatened. At first, he doesn’t
know why but eventually finds out.
3. Strange things happen.
For example: the heroine or hero receives a mysterious letter, people are
following them, or they are startled from strange sounds in the night, etc.
4. Secrets are gradually
being answered as the story develops. As they search for answers, they begin to
find clues that bring them closer to their unanswered questions.
5. Emotions are up front.
This makes the reader become part of the story and sit on the edge of his seat.
6. The hero is pursued or
captured, or in terrible danger. Now you have to figure out how he or she will
get away.
7. The reader can easily
be ahead of the hero and almost see the outcome as he begs, “No! Don’t go in
there!” Remember: The reader knows
who is behind the door in a Mystery/Suspense. The reader won’t know who is
behind the door in a cozy mystery.
8. The hero or heroine must
have a certain skill so he or she can defeat the villain. If not a skill, an
idea can come to his or her mind that will help them get out of the situation.
9. The Climax: The hero
rides to the rescue. The bad guy gets what’s coming to him. The victims need to
see the villain get his just rewards.
10. Resolution: All loose
ends are tied up here. You must answer any questions the reader might have
missed during the story or may not understand.
At the end of the book, you
cheer when the good guy wins. You applaud as you watch the bad guy get his just
rewards. You sigh when the hero takes the heroine in his arms and gives her a
delectable kiss, sending her the message of enduring love. Then you close the
book and hope to read another story that is just as entertaining as the one you
read.
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interested in and sign up for some free audiobooks.
There are many types of mysteries to choose from such as a
cozy mystery, hard-boiled, soft-boiled, or the thriller. What is the
difference between a cozy and other mysteries? A cozy is a slow paced story with a bit of humor
but not boring by any means. This genre is G-rated and focuses on the characters.
Many people have wondered what makes a cozy mystery. A cozy
always focuses on the main characters. As they investigate, you become part of
their lives and get to know them personally. It is easy to get attached to the
main character in a cozy. Below are some cozies for you to learn about.
AMELIA MOORE DETECTIVE SERIES
The Bali Mystery: Book 1
Amelia Moore is the founder of the Moore Detective Agency and specializes in
missing persons. Her cases have taken her to some very interesting places and
put her in some dangerous situations, but she always solves the case. With the
help of Rick Bonito, her business is flourishing. When Mrs. Brody hires Amelia
and Rick to find her missing brother, they find themselves in Bali, Indonesia.
They are mystified why her brother quit his job, put his home up for sale, and
ran off to this mysterious and exotic island without telling a soul.
“This is a cozy mystery, but
there is also suspense, danger and, of course, romance. Throw in two mysterious
men in black – complete with black suits and sunglasses and you have all the
makings of an exciting novel.” --Library
of Clean Reads
The Shamrock Case:
Book 2
When Amelia is hired to search for her client’s grandparents, the case takes
them to Ireland. Kate must learn about her heritage. Who are her grandparents
and could they still be alive after all these years? Why did her parents leave
Ireland suddenly and move to America? Is there more to this case than meets the
eye?
“Amelia and Rick have the
makings of being a lasting couple that readers will adore and root for. The
author paints a vivid picture of the beauty of Ireland. I could easily see the
greenery and magnificence of the country. Clarke knows both her characters and
locations well and it shines through each word she writes.” --Socrates Book Review
The Missing Heir: Book 3
Dell
Murphy has passed on and left a fortune to his nephew. He wants his nephew to
continue his work at the orphanage in Mexico, but there is one problem. Neal
Woods is missing! If Amelia and Rick can’t find him soon, the fortune will be
turned over to Dell’s brother and sister who intend to close down “Uncle Dell’s
Orphanage.” If that happens, where will the children go?
“It’s refreshing to discover a
“cozy mystery”, with two likeable, romantic characters who enjoy each other and
are able to solve a mystery together. It is a book I am happy to be able to
recommend and share with teens as well as adults!” –AuthorSherril S. Cannon
The Mysterious Doll: Book 4
Pauline Jones is confused why her boyfriend
took off without telling a soul where he was going. But that isn’t all. Sam
Whitaker is accused of stealing a valuable porcelain doll from the museum. His
disappearance makes him look guilty, but Pauline is convinced he is innocent.
When Amelia finds Sam, she realizes they need to prove his innocence. Where is
the antique doll and who has taken it?
“I've read all of this author's
mysteries and this one is my favorite! They're all good, but they just keep
getting better and better. I think part of it is getting to know the characters
more with each book and watching the way Amelia and her partner, Rick, work
together. The mystery element was great! It moved along at a good pace and just
when I thought I had it figured out at the end, a few twists were thrown in and
I was at a loss once again.” --Katie
Watkins, Katies Clean Book Collection
Her Lost Love:
Book 5
Julie Anderson feels a need to find the man she fell deeply in love with during
her youth. When Julie went off to college to become a lawyer, she lost contact
with her high school sweetheart. She now wants to know what became of Joey and
why he stopped writing to her? This is an assignment that intrigues Amelia. The
thought of finding a long-lost love seems quite romantic.
“I love long-lost love stories. So
this one grabbed my interest right from the beginning. What I enjoy about this
series is that there's always more to each case than they originally think.
This case was no different. I love how their personal relationship is
progressing and am excited to see what happens next. Rick is so irresistible
and romantic and he steps up big time in this book. I'm definitely looking
forward to reading more!” --Melanie
Valderrama, Mel’s Shelves
Mystery on the Bayou:
Book 6
Amelia is approached by a woman who is concerned about the son she gave up for
adoption sixteen years ago. Millie fears he has inherited Marfan’s Syndrome
from her side of the family. Not only that, but she has been having nightmares
that make her fear he is in danger. She petitioned the court to view the sealed
records but was refused. Will Amelia and Rick be able to convince the courts to
help them? If her son is in danger, will they get there in time?
“Dedicated
to ‘all of those who have had to deal with Marfan’s Syndrome’, the story
centers on a search for an adopted child who is potentially suffering from this
rare genetic disorder which can result in optical and cardiovascular problems
and may be life-threatening. The story takes us into the Louisiana bayous,
introduces us to Cajun food including crayfish, describes alligator life in the
deep south, and even teaches us some interesting self-defense maneuvers for
women!” --Author Sherrill Cannon
The Lighthouse Secret:
Book 7
Rick Bonito’s uncle supposedly drowned five years ago and his body was never
found, but something did not seem right about the report. Uncle Antonio was an
excellent swimmer. His disappearance seems quite suspicious to Rick’s father.
He never felt the complete truth had come out about his brother. It is now up
to Amelia and Rick to find out the truth about his uncle.
“In
the Amelia Moore Detective Series, the author delivers a delightful, fairly
fast-paced tale in the pursuit of a missing person, for that's what Amelia's
agency specializes in. This time it is personal, as Rick's Uncle Antonio Bonito
dies in suspicious circumstances. But what do lighthouses have to do with his
disappearance? The reader gets a brief education into lighthouses, their
importance in the past and the interesting uses they have today.” --Sandra Olshaski, Library of Clean Reads
THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN AND JULIA EVANS
Anasazi Intrigue: Book 1
Julia is a newspaper reporter and her husband
John is a professional knife maker. Because of her curiosity, Julia gets
herself into a bunch of trouble. The Evans also have three college age
daughters, which add a little spice to their life.
When a devastating flood takes
out several homes in a small town, residents are shocked by the news of also a
possible poison spill that kills many of the fish and neighbor's pets. Julia,
the town's newest reporter, begins her investigation but realizes the story is
much bigger and more dangerous than she thought! Julia and her husband find
themselves on the run trying to save their lives while finishing the story of a
lifetime! She never realized that being a reporter could be so dangerous. With
artifacts, dead fish, a devastating flood, and miscreants, John and Julia have
their hands full.
Mayan Intrigue: Book 2
Julia is a reporter for a local newspaper but this time her boss sends her to southern Mexico to do a story on artifact theft. Because of her curiosity, Julia and her husband John find themselves running for their lives once again. The Evans also have three college age
daughters, who have their own adventures.
The discovery of a priceless artifact puts Julia's
life in great danger! While on assignment for the newspaper, John and Julia
Evans try to enjoy a romantic vacation among the Mayan ruins. When Julia sees a
couple suspicious men exchanging an item, she quickly turns and leaves but it
is too late. The men have seen her. Before John and Julia realize what is going
on, they are both in danger and find themselves running for their lives through
the jungles of the Yucatan.
Montezuma Intrigue: Book 3
Julia is a newspaper reporter in southern Utah and her husband,
John, is a professional knife maker. While the Evans and their three daughters are on vacation, the adventure and mystery begins.
When a leather parchment of Montezuma's map is
found in great-grandfather Evans' old chest, April and the twins know this
summer is going to be a memorable one. The girls want to search for it but
their father is against it for some mysterious reason. With Julia's help, she
and the girls convince John to go on a treasure hunt. Is Montezuma's treasure a
legend or reality? Whatever the case, John insists on keeping their little
treasure hunt a secret. If certain people find out about it, the family could
be in danger.
DesertIntrigue: Book 4
Julia is a reporter for a local newspaper but this time she travels to Arizona for her sleuthing. Her husband,
John, is a very cautious man and worries about his wife's curiosity. The Evans also
have three college age
daughters, and one of them has fallen in love.
When
Julia's brother announces that his dude ranch is haunted, she believes that
someone is trying to sabotage his place and force him to sell. The mysterious
happenings have to do with Superstition Mountain, the lost Dutchman's goldmine,
and the great Thunder God. Is it possible that the legend of the Thunder God is
actually true? After a terrible thunderstorm, everyone begins to wonder. John
and Julia quickly head to Mesa, Arizona and discover a few mysterious events.
Will they find out who is behind these disasters before Uncle Kelly's dude
ranch is ruined?
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LEARN HOW TO GET A
FREE AUDIO BOOK FROM AUDIBLE! Receive this audiobook free if you join
audible.com. Membership includes two free audiobooks and you can choose from
150,000+ titles. Go to Linda Weaver Clarke’s AudiblePage and find the book you’re
interested in and sign up for some free audiobooks.
Visiting my blog this week is Heidi Thomas. She will talk about her
mother, her novels, and how it is of a personal nature to her. As a
genealogist and a missionary at the Family Search Center, this author's
story is intriguing to me. I know you will be amazed after you read her
thoughts.
Author Bio: Heidi
M. Thomas grew up on a working ranch in eastern Montana, riding and gathering
cattle for branding and shipping. Her parents taught her a love of books, and
her grandmother rode bucking stock in rodeos. She followed her dream of
writing, with a journalism degree from the University of Montana. Heidi is the
author of the award-winning “Cowgirl Dreams” novel series, the “American Dream”
series, and Cowgirl Up: A History of Rodeo Women.
Finding True Home is the sequel to Seeking the American Dream, two novels
based on my mom who emigrated from Germany after WWII. This story was actually
the first novel I ever wrote.
When I moved from Missoula, Montana to
Mount Vernon, Washington in 1996, I was more than a little surprised at how
hard that transition was. I had thought it would be pretty easy. I was a
freelance writer—I could write from anywhere. It was only a few hours away—I
could get back and visit my friends as often as I liked.
But I was lonely and felt out of place. I
had to find new stores, new doctors, a new vet for my cat, and meet new people,
hoping to make new friends. Someone told me it would take at least three years
to feel like it was “home.” And that turned out to be true.
That started me thinking about my mother.
I moved a few hundred miles. She moved to a different country on a different
continent. Everyone where I moved spoke English. She only knew a few English
words. From Missoula to Mount Vernon was pretty much the same culture for me.
She moved from an urban setting to the “middle of nowhere” in eastern Montana
to live on a ranch with her cowboy in-laws. I was acquainted with several
people before I moved to my new home. She knew no one except her fiancé, a man
she hadn’t seen for two years!
That took courage and stick-to-itiveness! Conditions
and life in Germany were horrible for years even before the war, so yes, she
was looking to better her life.However,
she arrived to snow in November and was driven for miles on a dirt track to get
to the ranch where there was no electricity or running water and the “facility”
was an outhouse. I’m surprised she didn't tell my dad to turn right around and drive
her back to the airport!
It must have been true love.
My mother experienced strange looks,
people who spoke VERY LOUDLY to try to make her understand, and questions about
whether she supported Hitler. After all, America had just fought a war with
Germany. She was still the “enemy” in many people’s eyes.
I don’t think she ever felt totally
accepted by her neighbors, but she discovered, when she returned to her home
after ten years, that she didn’t belong there anymore, either. What a dilemma.
Writing the fictional version of her story
was cathartic for me. I was able to put myself in her shoes and try to
understand what she must have felt and why she reacted the way she did. And,
with fiction, I was able to write the ending the way it should have been.
Fiction is powerful. And it has been a
healing process for me and my family.
As a nurse, Anna Schmidt deals with the aftermath of a
war-torn Germany on a daily basis. The destruction and suffering of WWII frame
her existence until she meets American GI, Neil Moser. His stories of ranch life
in Montana, his quiet kindness and compassion, and the attraction that blossoms
give her hope for a different life. Before their relationship develops, Neil is
suddenly shipped out of Germany, and Anna is left with nothing but a yearning
for what might have been.
Anna’s dreams are renewed when Neil writes to declare his love and propose that
she join him in America as his wife. After two years of endless paperwork, she
is finally on American soil. But will Anna be able to overcome the language
barrier and harsh Montana ranch life, to gain acceptance from his parents, and
form a family in a country that still considers a German the enemy?
It’s been ten years since Anna Moser immigrated to Montana
from Germany, for love and hopes of a better life in the “land of milk and
honey.” Instead, she’s found harsh winters and searing summers, sacrifice and
back-breaking work. After all these years, she still perceives neighbors
looking down their noses with distrust at this “foreign woman.”
Did she make a
mistake in following her heart to marry Neil and build a ranch and family with
him? Yet, after her first visit back to Germany, she finds she no longer
belongs there either. In spite of hardships, loss, and near-death illness, will
the love of Neil and her children help Anna find her true home?
I believe in miracles. I feel that a loving
Heavenly Father is watching over us, caring what happens to us and worrying
about us. Sometimes we wonder if miracles still occur in this day and age. I
believe they do, according to our faith and prayers. One mother wrote about a Christmas
miracle. I know this woman personally and she believed in prayer. This story is
one of love and miracles… of faith and hope.
Don’t Let Him Die
I first became aware of my twelve year old son,
George’s, illness when the choppy rendition at the piano of “Hark! The Herald
Angels sing,” had stopped. Glancing at him, his head resting on the piano, I
asked, “What’s wrong?’
He replied, “I don’t feel good.” As he looked up I
saw his cheeks were flushed; on closer inspection it proved to be a fine rash.
He had a temperature. I called our family doctor and described the symptoms. He
said it sounded like the measles that were going around and he prescribed a
well-known drug.
The next day, George complained of his eyes
hurting. Blisters began to appear on his ears and lips, and his temperature
rose. After sitting by his side for several hours, I had to leave the room
momentarily. As I returned, the sight was so shocking. I rushed from the room,
dropped to the floor and cried. George had rubbed all the skin from his
blistered lips. His ears, neck and face were a mass of blisters, with one large
blister hanging like a sac on one side of his face. George did not sleep. He
kept asking us to please turn out the lights. It was frightening to hear him
ask this; there was only a small night light burning and I had a small folded
towel over his eyes.
Upon our arrival at the hospital, we were taken to
an isolation room. As the ambulance attendant lifted my son onto the bed, the
large blister on his face, a hanging sac of sloshing fluid broke.
Now, lying naked on the sterile sheets, coughing
and choking, his body a mass of blisters and skinless places, he looked like
someone wearing an ugly mask. I wanted to cry out, “No! No!” But I prayed that
for my son’s sake my voice would be calm.
Nothing could have torn me away from my son at
this time; so I was given a hospital gown and a mask. The next few days were
crucial ones. Large areas of skin that had gone dark and looked as if they were
scalded, pushed off from George’s back and he stuck to the sheets. The skin,
pushed up on his upper arm, looked like a wrinkled nylon stocking. George’s
mouth and throat were blistered, as well as the bronchial tubes, and he was
coughing constantly. I covered my face, put my head on the windowsill and
fought the tears.
The eye doctor said the eyes were blistered, even
on the cornea, and added, “If he comes along—we may not be able to save his
eyes.” It came to me that my son might be blind!
A new nurse coming in to put drops in George’s
eyes, leaned over him and said, “George, I have something to put in your eyes.
Can you turn your head this way?” She leaned over, and as he turned his face
with its black rimmed hole for a mouth, one side of his face practically
skinless, and skinless ears—all this was too much for this nurse. She became
nauseous, gagged and hurriedly left the room.
One night, two couples were standing in the hall.
One of the men looked in at George and gasped. When his wife stepped over to
where he was standing, he led her away, remarking, “You do not want to see
that.”
Each time the doctor entered the room, he would
greet my son with, “How are you George?” George would answer, “Pretty good.”
Always pretty good. At one time the doctor looked at him and said, “You are a
game little guy!” There were tears in his eyes.
He asked me if I was praying. I assured him I was.
He also asked if his name could be put in the temple so those who were there
could pray for him.
One evening, the young doctor gravely told me
things were not going well and that he had done all that he could. At that
moment I felt desperately alone; what could I do except go to God for help? I
returned to the room and knelt beside my son’s bed and pleaded with God to let
him live.
The next day, George asked, “Are they still
praying for me?” I said, “Oh, yes. We surely are son.” Then he asked me if I’d
hold his hand. He said, “If you don’t mind holding a scratchy one.” All day I
held his hand. By evening I sensed a calmness come over him. I said, “Doctor, I
think he is better!” The doctor examined him, turned to me and with a look of
almost disbelief and surprise said, “I think he is!” The crisis had passed.
The miraculous powers of the body to heal took
over. New skin began to grow and the old skin sloughed off. All twenty of his
fingernails and toenails came off.
Suddenly we were aware that it was Christmas Eve.
Kind nurses and Santa himself came to where a brave young boy with a blotched
and burned looking body sat in the bed. By tipping his head back, he saw
through slits of eyes a Christmas bouquet and said, “I can see! I can see!” At
that moment I was humbled beyond words.
The young doctor came into the room and said,
“George, you have made medical history.” Then he asked if we minded the case
being written for the medical journals. I tried to thank our tall young doctor.
He said humbly, “I just stood by.” But I knew he had worked valiantly to save
my son.
Our family doctor came into the room and said,
“George, you are a walking miracle.” The nurses, who came to say good-bye to
us, said that no one in the hospital expected to see our son go out of the
hospital alive. The eye doctor said, “I feel so humble about this boy. It
certainly has made me a believer.”
At this unforgettable Christmas time I realized
that, to me, Christmas would forever be a time of rejoicing; rejoicing for the
gift of a son.” (Opal H. Clarke, “Don’t Let Him Die”)
This young man grew to
adulthood but his body isn’t the same. His eyes are constantly red because his
tear ducts were destroyed, so he has to use artificial tears. He coughs
frequently and has a raspy sound when he breathes because he has Chronic
Bronchitis, which was also caused from his illness. This faithful man, George
Amos Clarke, my sweetheart and husband, was grateful for a miracle.
