Blessings

	God Sends A Sign

Cheryl Shares A Message of Joy April 6, 2002

Hello to you all. I would like to share a very special experience I had yesterday. I was laying out by the pool reading the book by Zig Ziglar The Grieving Christian. I was reading a chapter referring to experiences of hope after a loved one dies, and spoke of how God does show us signs that your loved one is okay. Zig said that his daughter who died loved gardenias, and after she died he and his wife planted gardenia bushes in their yard. He said the first year after they planted them they bloomed when gardenias never, ever bloomed, and they had more gardenias than any other bush they had ever seen; he knew this was a sign from God saying that his daughter was just fine. Then he told a story that a friend of his experienced: A girl asked her mother who was dying of cancer that when she gets to heaven could she please send her a single, red rose so that she will know that her mom is okay and at peace. The mother replied of course I will. Then the daughter asked, but mom how can you do that? The mother ! said, "God can do anything." Soon after her mother died at the funeral a man went over the her mother's casket and placed a single, red rose in her mother's hand. The daughter went up to the man who she had never met, and she asked him why he did that. The man said I had this feeling all day long that when I came here I had to put a single, red rose in your mother's hand. Pretty powerful!

So, after reading this while I was sitting out by the pool where Brandon spent most of his waking moments, I thought I am going to ask God to send a cardinal to me someday soon so that I know that my baby is okay (a cardinal was Brandon and my favorite bird).

Well, I began to pray this prayer and in the midst of my praying a red cardinal flew right onto the bird house several feet away from me. I have not seen a cardinal since Brandon died until yesterday, and now in the middle of my prayer (not hours or days later), God sent that special cardinal to me and gave me a divine answer to my prayer. I have never experienced anything like this in my entire life! What an emotional moment that was for me. The cardinal would fly away for a few minutes, and then come back; I took several pictures of that "special cardinal." I had such a sense of peace come over me that I've never felt before. I actually saw the cardinal periodically throughout the day until yesterday evening.

God's love is amazing, and I feel so special that God did answer that prayer so powerfully for me. God is an awesome God. No one can ever convince me that was anything different than a firmly, instantly answered prayer. Please share this with others. Now, whenever you see a cardinal, please think of Brandon and know that he is at peace and okay. To add to this, Meech told me last night that she asked all of the people in our Bible study group to pray for me and to ask God to please send me a sign that Brandon was okay because I wasn't able to make it to our Bible study the last couple of weeks because I've been having a tough time. Thank you all for your continued love and prayers. The power of prayer is amazing, so to those of you who feel helpless that there is nothing you can do to help me and my family, please, please keep praying for Richard and me and the rest of our family. Thank you.
Love, Cheryl

From Brandon's Grandma Lu
Lu Waas, a Core Group Leader at Community Bible Study in Charlotte, North Carolina, unexpectedly lost her grandson Brandon February 1, 2002. She came back to Bible Study and spoke in front of approximately 105 women on February 7, 2002. This is the transcript of her talk.
God Is Good Brandon In Heaven With Jesus
	Good Morning. My name is Lu Waas and I’m a Core Leader here at CBS. Before I speak to you this morning I’d like to open with prayer. “Lord as I speak this morning to tell these women about Brandon, stand up here with me. Give me the exact words that will reach others and glorify You. Take away any pride or attention to self I might desire or have in my sinful nature. Let me laugh to show others that because of You – I can – even at a time like this. Let me cry to show them that it's okay to cry. Let me show gratitude for all the kind people reaching out to us in words and in prayer. Let me show humility, Lord, because it's clear that you have sent Your angels to minister to my family and they have been sent by Your grace, not because we deserve it. Father, help me to remember that this is not about me or even about Brandon. It is about You. In Jesus' name, Amen.”



I came this morning to tell you that God is good. My husband, Bob, and I have been married 26 years. Our anniversary was this past Tuesday, February 5^th, and we buried our grandson on that day. Brandon will be 7 tomorrow. Tomorrow is his birthday. That's our little boy. (Brandon’s picture being shown on overhead projector). This kid was incredible. I guess if they had him tested he probably would have been hyperactive - something – or whatever. We just thought he was a boy. He had more energy than should be legal for anybody and just everybody that you'd meet had a Brandon story - he just affected you that way.


He came to visit us a few weeks ago right after Christmas. I have two granddaughters that live here. Rachel is 5 and Rebecca is 2. Rachel just follows all the rules and she's just this sweet quiet girl - 'til Brandon came! He came in and the first thing he did was show his little girl cousins that you could get on your knees and slide completely down Grandma's hardwood floors at an amazing speed! And they did!



The day of the accident – the morning that Brandon died - he said, "Mommy, what does God look like?" She didn't think too much of it. Brandon loves Veggie Tales and Bible Man, and goes to Sunday School and he knows about the Lord. And she told him we didn't know but we'd find out someday. But he wouldn't leave it at that. He said, "Mommy, what does Jesus look like? I want to see his face." By now she was getting a little bit uncomfortable and she said, "We will see it, honey, but not for a long, long time. He said, "Mommy, I want to go to Heaven, because I know that when we go there everybody gets along, and nobody fights and everybody's happy, and you really get to be with Jesus. I want to go there now." And she said, "It will be a long time, Brandon, but you will go there, someday." And later that day, he went there. So, those of you who are young Moms, teach your children about Jesus so that whenever the time comes, they will want to go there. Let them know. Let them understand.


When Brandon came to visit us over the holidays, he wanted to watch his videos. We put him in my bedroom with the videos and Pop Tarts. He loved Pop Tarts and was sitting on my bed watching videos and eating Pop Tarts. When his Mother came in she said, "No, Brandon, you can not eat Pop Tarts in Grandma's bed. There's going to be crumbs all over!" His Grandfather, who is very rigid with the children, said, "Sure, let him eat them! I don't care if he smears jelly all over the place!" And so he ate his Pop Tarts. So, if you have a grandchild, let them eat Pop Tarts in your bed. It's okay.


God is good. Tomorrow is Brandon's birthday, and because of my grandson there will be prayer in a public school in Tallahassee. Praise God! He has a lady principal who came up and introduced herself and told us that tomorrow on Brandon's birthday, she will take - not just his class - but the entire school -outside. She will lead in prayer for Brandon and they will release balloons up into the sky so he can get them, and he will know exactly who sent which balloon and what color it is, because he's Brandon and he'll know.


Bob and I have been through good and bad times - but we've never suffered the pain we endured when we saw our daughter in a crumpled heap and we saw a little boy in a casket. We've also never seen such an incredible outpouring of love and kindness. Our lives are also changed forever. We now know how to minister to people in the midst of their pain. We were both brought up to never intrude on people's tragedy. You don't call. You don't go over there. What do you say? It’s so awkward. So, if you have anybody or hear of anybody that's going through a rough time, Go! I will go. I'll be there. I don't know what I'll say. I don't know if it will be awkward, but I can be there and I can hug them and I can let them know that I love them. And I can let them know that God loves them. So do that.

From Brandon's Uncle Michael

Brandon we love you with all of our hearts.
You were so very friendly--you were so very smart.

Now you've gone to heaven on the wings of a dove,
But I know you'll watch over us from heaven above.

While we're down here we'll be thinking of you
And all of the funny things you used to do.

You brought joy into everyone's life that you touched--
And that is why everyone Loves you so much.

No matter who you were with--you always had fun.
You're such a great cousin--nephew--and son.

Brandon Louis--so innocent and pure--
Why God chose to take you--I'm not quite sure. . .

It was probably part of his heavenly plan--
Although you're with Jesus, holding his hand--
You'll always be with us
Little big man.

Love Always,
Uncle Mike

I will never forget you!