Brenda Hart's Page - My Testimony

BRENDA--HART GIRL NUMBER FOUR

I was nearly nine when Brenda was born
A fourth little girl now in our home.
How thrilled we were, except for Dad
He wanted a boy really bad.

He did, however, accept her with grace
and fell in love with her smiling face.
She was a very wonderful child
Always smiling and her manner was mild.

After a little more than a year
Our family had weeks of nothing but fear.
Fear that Brenda would not survive
As we asked God to let her live.

Brenda had just begun to walk
And make pleasant sounds as she tried to talk.
Now she could no longer move
This little girl that we all love.

We couldn't even hear her cry
So we prayed and prayed to God on high.
The diagnosis came - oh, what a blow
You see, they said she had polio.

They took her away - it seemed so unfair
But she needed to get therapeutic care.
I guess I finally understood.
But, I wanted to see her - if only I could.

Each Sunday, Mom and Dad would go
Hoping to bring her home.
But the therapy was very slow
And they returned home alone.

After nearly a year, progress was made
Those memories will never fade.
My little sister had finally returned
The homecoming for which we all yearned.

Surgeries and braces she faced for years
Her continued therapy had us all in tears.
All those discomforts, God used as a tool
In order that Brenda could start school.

She did very well - an excellent student
Even skipped sixth grade - she is so prudent!
At age 16 she became a high school grad
How could we any longer be sad!!!

She started work in a five and dime
Brenda wasn't one to waste her time.
Working there meant being on her feet.
Nine months of this without defeat.

A position in the medical field was to be
Transcribing records for many MDs.
She completed her work with lots of pride
We all are able in her to confide.

Brenda and Mom were very close
On each other they came to depend
But Mom died and Brenda lost...
not just her Mom, but her very best friend.

After thirty-five years, Brenda did retire
She is taking care of our Dad.
He's eighty-six and a little senile
Her strength I wish I had.

With the faith, love and loyalty
That I see in my sister, my friend
I know our God is with her
And will be to the end.

© 1997, by Betty Hart Lynn
Betty is my sister and lives in South Dakota with her husband.
She has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

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SOMEONE SPECIAL

You're someone special, Brenda Joyce Hart,
A unique branch of our family tree.
So far back as my mind can remember
You've always been my "Aunt Brenie".

But even more than being my Aunt
You've been so much more to me.
You've been a shining example
Of what a Christian should be.

You've been given many challenges in your life
From braces to casts to canes.
I know it couldn't have been easy
And yet the strength of your spirit remained.

I'm sure there were times when your faith faltered
And yet you didn't let it show.
You continued to be a blessing to your family
Someone we were proud to know.

If I were to draw a picture of your faith, Aunt Bren,
I'd start with a tall oak tree.
It's many branches and leaves make it so beautiful
But there'd be more to my picture you see.

There'd be deep roots that stretch way down in the soil.
These roots would represent your faith.
The soil would be your relationship with God
And together they would account for your strength.

I love who you were, I love who you are,
And I love who you're going to be
As God continues to do a work in your life,
You'll grow even more special to me.

© 1994, by Karen Fox Stroupe
Karen is my niece and lives in Pennsylvania with
her husband and daughter.

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SAFE IN HIS GRIP

I am safe in His Grip
As I travel down life's road.
Confident that God is with me
No matter where I go.

I am safe in His Grip,
Even when I am in the pit of despair.
He enables me to climb out
When I am overcome with fear.

I am safe in His Grip
When my health is slowly fading...
He comforts me with Words
That are soothing and uplifting.

I am safe in His Grip,
When the winds of life blow hard.
He surrounds me with His Love
As I travel down life's path.

I am safe in His Grip,
When happiness beams down on me.
My heart explodes with gratitude
As I think of how much He loves me.

© 2000 by Gail Parks
Gail is a friend I met over the Internet. She lives with her
husband and children in Canada. She wrote this poem for me
because I always sign my messages with
In His Grip, Brenda

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BLESSINGS RIPPLE

Blessings ripple when you share your heart
To those who are lost upon life's path.
Share your time, your love and your compassion
With someone who is facing a difficult situation.
Then let God do the rest
And you will be richly blessed.
For those around you will also find
That they are blessed because you took the time
To hold their hand when they were scared
And you prayed for them in their time of despair.
Now isn't that truly amazing
That God gives both of you His blessing.
That's how blessings ripple my friend.
Once you start sharing there is no end
To the blessings you receive from heaven above
And it all begins when you take the time to
share God's love.