Barbara is a single women who works in a bank
Barbara’s story –
In my early twenties I used to visit fortune tellers and one of them told me that someone in my family would have twins but that they would die shortly after birth.
I have quite a large family (5 brothers) and each time I was told of a pregnancy I would become a little anxious until I was told it wasn’t twins. As time went by the memory of the fortune teller faded.
Years went by and my eldest niece (Juliet) married and was trying to start a family. After trying unsuccessfully for a while she eventually started to have IVF treatment. It was a bumpy road for her but after the fourth attempt Juliet called me to tell me the IVF had worked, I was delighted and told her how happy I was for her, then she told me “it gets better, I’m having twins”. The words of the fortune teller came flooding back, I was devastated.
Two of my brothers were Christians, one of them working as a Vicar, I called him and told him about the fortune teller. He explained why it wasn’t good for me to go to a fortune teller and said Jesus could stop this having such a devastating effect on me and my circumstances. He advised me to go to church on the Sunday with my other brother where I could be prayed for. I thought this was over the top, as I didn’t see the need to go to church for anything whether I was a Christian or not.
Anyway on the Sunday evening I did go to church and I was prayed for after the service. I remember thinking ‘why do they keep praying for me, I’m here for Juliet’. I didn’t understand all that was said to me that day, things about Jesus dying for me. I knew these things as a child but couldn’t get my adult head around them.
What I do know is that I had been in total turmoil for four days I was so distraught but that night such a peace and calmness came over me that I couldn’t describe, it just seemed to float in and I was peaceful from head to toe.
I would have done anything for my niece and so went to church for her. I even made a ‘deal’ with God, ‘if you keep Juliet safe I’ll keep coming to church for at least five years,’ I chuckle about it now - I can almost see God with a smile on his face saying ‘ok dear, thanks’. However, it wasn’t long before I decided that I wanted to go to church for myself.
After about two weeks I was told that one of the babies had miscarried but that the other one was fine. In June 1997 my niece gave birth to a beautiful little girl, I felt so grateful. She’s happy confident and witty.
I'm still going to church and understand much better some of the things that were spoken to me on that day, and more about how much God cares for me and only wants the best for my life.
Jeanette Lynne Chris John Barbara Rona Paul Pat