My little daughter "Dee" is now 56. Following is a News Paper clipping that appeared when she was 12.

'Jailed' from Her Beloved Summer "Twelve-year-old Dorothy Grier loves to swim and relax and just plain have fun during the summer vacations. "She'll spend most of this summer in room 218 at Logan County hospital. "Dorothy lies in traction with a broken leg, cracked hip and arm, and massive abrasions around the right eye. "Dorothy is from Okanogan, Wash. She went to school there part of last year, till her parents moved to Imperial, Nebraska. On May 25th Mr. and Mrs. Grier and Dorothy were traveling in two cars toward Walden. Mrs. Grier was driving the lead vehicle while Mr. Grier and Dorothy were in the second car. "The two-car caravan had passed through Stoneham and Buckingham, heading West. Five miles from Buckingham Mrs. Grier passed a car on the road. Charles Grier started to follow suit. But just then the other vehicle started to make a left turn. The vehicles collided but did not turn over. Damage was heavy. "Dorothy remembers every detail of the accident. She reports she was in terrible pain, till a Sterling Ambulance picked her up and carried her to the hospital. "Dorothy reported her mother now is in Canada picking up another daughter and a brother. Dorothy's father, a minister of the Gospel, is temporarily employed by a local cement block producer until Dorothy is released from the hospital. "Dorothy won't play or swim this summer. Her doctor says she has at least another 10 weeks time ahead in the hospital. She'll probably get out just in time for school this fall."

This "echo from the past," brings back old memories from one of the more difficult experiences of a preacher's life. One of those times when it seemed we were facing the impossible! Not only was our darling daughter suffering from broken bones and other injuries in the hospital--we had lost the only new car we had ever owned until that time---and we were stranded in a strange town, without money and without income!

Then we were again reminded of the fact that God is still in control, and He had a purpose in permitting this! Praise the Lord! "He makes a way where there is no way!" But we were puzzled. What lesson was our loving Heavenly Father trying to teach us? Looking back, not only did we learn from this experience, to those who truly seek Him, God's presence becomes more real and more precious when we're down, than at any other time.

I recall sometime back, reading about a Sheriff who had a harrowing experience that stirred my heart at the time. One day, while on the call of duty, this law enforcement officer received word that his young son had been hit by a fast-moving automobile and was in the local hospital. That Sheriff had no way of knowing how badly his son was hurt. He was accustomed to being involved in other people's problems, but this was different! This time it was his own little Robby! His pride and Joy! Who was at fault was not the big issue now. How about Robby? How bad was he hurt? He learned later that a speeding car had struck his boy, hurling him through the air some 300 feet and then dropping him into a little pond of water and mud-mostly MUD! To his great relief, upon arriving at the hospital he learned that his boy was not seriously injured, and in good spirits. As his father held him and lovingly caressed him, Robby told his Daddy all about the accident, with emphasis on his broken fishing pole. Robby loved to fish! Naturally, at his first opportunity, the Sheriff rushed out and bought him a better pole than the one that was broken. Then while he engaged in pretending to fish with his newest treasure, he said casually, "Daddy, there is one question I really want to ask you. 'Do you know that Jesus is really real?'" "Certainly, "said the father, startled at the abruptness of the question. "Why did you ask?" "Well," said Robby, "Jesus is really real! I know He is real because I saw Him! He picked me up, carried me a long way and laid me down in that mud. Do you know Daddy, If I had landed any other place, I might have got hurt!" Bobby Learned A Lesson We Sometimes Miss What seems to us another "mud puddle" may be the providence of God! Learn to thank Him when the going is rough. God may have better things awaiting you, just round the corner!

"I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together: I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing" (Psalm 34:1,3,4,10).