DANIEL180: IF YOU WERE TO ASK GOD.....

Why?

Jana,

Barry was like a big brother to Randy and I. He and my sister Robin were friends. Barry was deaf/hearing impaired.

My mother was so inspired by Barry that she learned sign language so she could teach young deaf children at Central Baptist Church in HB. (Amazing how OCD people can do things when inspired just like quilting)

Because of Barry's influence in my life I went with my mom to her classes. I made friends with some of the deaf kids and learned how to communicate in a different way with them.

Earlier, Barry taught me how to communicate with deaf people even though I didn't sign. Barry taught me that passion for the deaf would automatically produce effective communication. He taught me that people don't care how much you know till they know how much you care!

He taught me to believe in people no matter what Special Need/Gift they had.

This teaching could only come from being inspired by our Redeemer's Spirit!

Looking back I realize that God's supernatural hand was directing my life as a youngster.

Supernaturally my Redeemer's Spirit was working behind the scenes orchestrating events in just the right way at the right time to connect.

One day while walking from the garage through the den at home the phone rang.....it was Barry's mother. She told me that Barry died from a cerebral arterial aneurysm in the brain. We were all devastated.

As time passed the acute shock of it all wore off. The love and memories of Barry and those deaf kids would be hidden in my heart and soul for another day in the future.

Years later as I was walking past the same phone in the same room on March 18th 1988 the phone rang again. This time it was another mother of a deaf/hearing impaired child. She was also the wife of my football coach at Edison High School and OCC. She asked me to come by their house and get some information on a seminar. (I had called her a week before asking for the info for a friend of mine that played Football at Edison).

I knew Coach and his wife had a deaf /hearing impaired daughter. I remember one day at practice seeing her walk across campus at OCC. The phone call from Barry's mom flashed through my mind as I watched her walk with the wind blowing in her beautiful hair. I remember wondering about her hearing loss and what she was all about in that brief moment.

Her blond hair was radiant and she had this overwhelming Joy and Confidence about her as she walked. She definitely was on the move and focused on her future.

I think my coach (her dad) saw me awestruck as I watched her. My friend Mark said something like, "dude you should ask her out! Look at you! You are frozen!"

A couple years later I was in Woodland Hills at my office after an 8 hour day of cold calling in Glendale Ca. As I was following up that evening I was inspired to write my coach a letter about the lessons I learned while playing football under his leadership.

A few weeks later I was in Orange County so I decided to visit my Coach at his office. As I walked in I saw Jana's picture on the wall. She was wearing a blue blouse that matched her beautiful blue eyes. She had the sweetest smile and look ever photographed. I will never forget this moment! I noticed her dad watching me as I looked intently at her picture.

I went to my moms that day and shared with her what happened in coaches office. I told her that for some reason Jana reminded me of Barry's spirit! I thought in my heart, "could she possibly be the one that God had prepared me to meet all these years?" Then I thought. "Oh you're crazy! God would never give you such a Prize."

Then my mom said, "you are going to marry her." I said, "Oh, Cmon Mom!"

Then, as fate would have it, while I was working out at the HBAC a friend and I were talking about a Christian seminar going on in Long Beach. He wanted information on how to attend.

I said, "I know who I can call....the Workman's.... They got me involved with this same seminar when I was your age."

Wow! How lucky was I? Now I had an excuse to call my former coach and some how meet his daughter Jana.

I thought, "Wow! This is the girl that stole my heart 2 years earlier at football practice."

During the following week I called and talked to Jana's mother. She promised to get me the info for the Seminar.

On March 18th 1988 as I was walking through the same den I did years ago when Barry's mother called with devastating news of her son Barry the same phone rang. This time It was another mother of a deaf child. This was the greatest news I ever received. It was my opportunity to meet Jana! It was like a Twilight Zone movie! From the worst news ever to the best news ever from two mothers of deaf/hearing impaired children.

When I showed up at Coach's house my heart sunk as Jana was not there. Lucky for me they invited me in. We talked for a few minutes in the kitchen as the garage door to the kitchen opened!

There she was! The girl I have wanted to meet since that summer day on the practice field.

As Jana walked in My heart melted! This was the greatest moment of my life. She was the kindest person I had ever met.

We were married in November that year and 26 years later we have 8 wonderful children.

I am more in love with jana today today then I was 26 years ago! I am still head over heals in love with Jana and I cherish every moment.

Now I realize that life doesn't always seem fair. We don't know why things happen the way they do.

Why was Barry deaf and why did he have to die?

What inspired my mother to learn sign language in such a short time and teach the deaf?

Why was I called at the last minute from the coach in Colorado to tell me that I was ineligible to play Football at Colorado Mesa a year before I met Jana?

Maybe God had Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11 in the works?

Our Redeemer doesn't miss anything! His Spirit orchestrates thousands of things behind the scenes in our daily lives.

If we knew everything He does for us each day we would be blown away!

Maybe God doesn't tell us everything so we will walk with Him day by day in constant Faith depending on Him.

Maybe He doesn't tell us everything simply because we wouldn't be able to contain it.

"Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
Habakkuk 1:5

26 years later Jana and I were having dinner in Costa Mesa.

She began to tear up as she shared with me all the things her mother and father did for her as she was growing up. She mentioned all if the provisions they made to make her feel at home in a hearing world.

Listening, I was moved with thankful tears as I never realized how much this meant to Jana. Why did it take me 26 years to learn that all these "little things" were not so little to a young girl trying to find her way.

As I write this I have tears of Joy knowing that the most important thing my wonderful Jana learned from her parents was that her Redeemer has been with her every step of the way.

Thank you Sheri and Bill for your love and dedication to the success of my Wonderful Wife as she was growing up.

I'm so fortunate....Thank you God!

Let's Trust our Lord today! He has great plans for us!

Just Go! Win The Day!!

RP