Announcer: HAVE YOU EVER
FELT LIKE YOUR LIFE
IS OUT OF CONTROL BECAUSE
YOU MADE A HUGE MISTAKE?
Sheila:: I KNEW CONTROL
WAS A HUGE ISSUE FOR JOHN
BEFORE WE WERE MARRIED
BUT RATHER THAN RUNNING
FOR THE HILLS I FLEW CLOSER,
LIKE A MOTH TO THE FLAME.
THEY SAY A GIRL
MARRIES HER FATHER.
IT LOOKED LIKE
I'D BECOME A CLICHÉ.
Announcer:
COMING UP ON LIFE TODAY,
BIBLE TEACHER AND AUTHOR,
SHEILA WALSH HELPS US LEARN
TO LET GO AND TRUST GOD.
♪
Sheila: HI! I'M SHEILA WALSH.
WELCOME TO WEDNESDAYS
IN THE WORD.
IF YOU'VE BEEN TUNING IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEDNESDAYS
YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT
THE LONGING IN ME.
DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF
IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU THINK
IF I JUST HAD THIS
THEN I'D BE HAPPY.
THEN YOU GET THAT BUT
THE LONGING REMAINS?
I WAS SO AWARE OF THAT
FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS
AND IT LED TO ME REALLY
INTO A DEEP STUDY
IN THE LIFE OF KING DAVID.
THEN I WAS ABLE TO RECORD
THE LONGING IN ME
DVD BIBLE STUDY SERIES.
I'D LOVE TO PUT THIS
INTO YOUR HANDS AND
I'LL TELL YOU HOW WE CAN
DO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
BUT HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY,
"THE LONGING FOR CONTROL."
CONTROL, IT'S A BIG WORD,
PARTICULARLY FOR US GIRLS.
AND PART OF IT COMES
FROM A GOOD PLACE.
WE WANT OUR HOMES TO BE
A PLACE OF ORDER AND PEACE.
WE WANT OUR HUSBANDS
TO BE HAPPY; WE WANT OUR KIDS
TO BE DOING WELL.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE
JUST DON'T LINE UP AND
THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION?
THEN THAT DESIRE FOR CONTROL
CAN MOVE INTO A REALLY
UNHEALTHY PLACE WHERE
WE ALMOST START
MANIPULATING PEOPLE.
IN MY OWN LIFE, HONESTLY,
WHAT HAS SHIFTED ME IS NOT
THAT I'VE BECOME A MORE
SPIRITUAL PERSON,
IT'S UNDERSTANDING --
THIS PROFOUND UNDERSTANDING
THAT WE HAVE A GOD WHO
NOT ONLY IS IN CONTROL
BUT WHO CAN BE TRUSTED.
WATCH THIS.
♪
Sheila: I LOVE SPENDING TIME
NEAR THE OCEAN.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT
THE SOUND OF THE WAVES
AND THE WIDE OPEN EXPANSE
OF WATER THAT ALWAYS BRINGS
WITH IT A SENSE OF CALM
AND CLARITY.
BUT THE DAY-TO-DAY REALITY
FOR THE INHABITANTS
OF THIS STRETCH OF BEACH
IS NOT SO IDYLLIC.
EVERY 12 HOURS THEIR LIVES ARE
LITERALLY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
DURING HIGH TIDE
THEY'RE UNDER WATER AND
THEY'RE BATTERED BY WIND
AND WAVES.
IN LOW TIDES THEY'RE EXPOSED
TO THE BAKING SUN
AND HUNGRY PREDATORS.
BUT THEY THRIVE
AND THEY SURVIVE BECAUSE
THEY'VE LEARNED
TO LET GO AND ADAPT.
WE MUST LEARN A SIMILAR LESSON
TO LET GO AND LET GOD LEAD US.
AFTER JOHN AND I WERE MARRIED
WE MOVED INTO HIS LOVELY
LITTLE HOUSE IN NORTH LONDON.
HE WAS VERY INVOLVED
IN THE CHRISTIAN MUSIC WORLD
AND WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE ME
THE NEXT BIG THING.
BUT HONESTLY, I DIDN'T WANT
TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING.
I REALLY JUST WANTED
TO SERVE GOD.
I ALSO KNEW I WAS TOO BROKEN
TO BEAR THE SCRUTINY
AND PRESSURE OF A WORLD
WHERE MUSICIANS ARE
CONTINUALLY JUDGED ON
THEIR LAST PERFORMANCE.
BUT I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO SAY NO.
THE FOLLOWING YEARS FOR ME NOW
ARE A BLUR: MEET AND GREETS,
PHOTO SHOOTS,
NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT
OF CONCERTS AND MOTELS.
BY 1992 MY SCHEDULE
WAS KILLING ME.
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
I CO-HOSTED THE 700 CLUB;
THEN I RAN FROM THAT SET
TO MY OWN 30 MINUTE SHOW.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WERE
CONCERT NIGHTS AND I WAS IN
A DIFFERENT CITY EVERY NIGHT.
SUNDAY SPENT IN THE AIRPORT
GETTING ME HOME SO I COULD
START THE TREADMILL
ALL OVER AGAIN.
I PLEADED WITH JOHN TO LET ME
STOP TRAVELING ON WEEKENDS
BUT HE BELIEVED IF I STOPPED
PERFORMING I'D LOSE MY PLACE
IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.
I DIDN'T REALLY CARE.
I WAS SO TIRED.
AND I FELT SO ALONE.
MY LIFE HAD SPIRALED
OUT OF CONTROL.
I KNEW I NEEDED JUST ONE NIGHT
TO GET AWAY FROM EVERYTHING
AND TO SPEND TIME
WITH THE LORD.
I DIDN'T PLAN MY ESCAPE
VERY WELL.
I GRABBED MY TOOTHBRUSH,
DEODORANT AND A T-SHIRT AND
I LEFT A NOTE IN THE KITCHEN
TELLING JOHN I'D BE BACK
THE NEXT DAY.
I WASN'T SURE WHERE TO GO;
I JUST WANTED ONE NIGHT
TO BE ALONE.
I FOUND A SMALL MOTEL
AND I CHECKED IN.
AT 3 A.M. I WOKE TO
A LOUD BANGING ON MY DOOR.
I LOOKED THROUGH THE PEEPHOLE
AND THERE WAS JOHN.
HE WAS ANGRY AND ORDERED ME
TO GET MY STUFF AND GO.
I TRIED TO EXPLAIN
I JUST WANT ONE NIGHT ALONE
BUT HE WOULDN'T LISTEN.
NOW I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT JOHN WAS ANY KIND
OF THREAT TO ME THAT NIGHT.
HE WAS ANGRY AND YES,
CONTROLLING BUT HE JUST
WANTED TO GO HOME AND
NOT TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN.
BUT I WASN'T ABLE
TO TELL MY HEART
AND MY MIND THAT THEN.
WHEN SOMEONE, PARTICULARLY
A MAN, GOT ANGRY WITH ME
IN THOSE DAYS I LITERALLY
FEARED FOR MY LIFE.
IT WASN'T REASONABLE BUT
IT WAS VERY REAL TO ME.
I KNEW CONTROL WAS A HUGE
ISSUE FOR JOHN BEFORE WE WERE
MARRIED BUT RATHER THAN
RUNNING FOR THE HILLS
I FLEW CLOSER LIKE
A MOTH TO THE FLAME.
THEY SAY A GIRL MARRIES
HER FATHER.
IT LOOKED LIKE I HAD
BECOME THE CLICHÉ.
CONTROL IS A BIG ISSUE
FOR WOMEN.
WE ALL KNOW THAT.
PART OF IT IS BIRTHED
IN A HEALTHY PLACE.
WE WANT TO FASHION OUR HOMES
INTO PEACEFUL PLACES.
WE WANT TO PROTECT
OUR CHILDREN.
AND IF WE'RE MARRIED, WE WANT
OUR HUSBANDS TO SUCCEED
AND TO FEEL FULFILLED.
WE WANT OUR FAMILIES
AND FRIENDS TO LOVE
AND TO SERVE GOD.
THESE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS.
BUT WHEN THOSE AROUND US
DON'T COOPERATE WITH
OUR EFFORTS TO CONTROL,
WE'RE LEFT WITH A FEW CHOICES.
WE CAN SPIRITUALIZE
THE SITUATION AND SAY
THE REASON WE'RE UPSET
IS BECAUSE WE DON'T BELIEVE
THIS IS WHAT THE LORD WANTS.
OR WE CAN PUNISH THE PERSON
AND SAY, "WELL, THAT'S FINE
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
BUT I WON'T BE PART OF IT."
OR WORST OF ALL, WE CAN
WITHDRAW; WE DON'T YELL
AND SCREAM AT THAT PERSON,
WE JUST CHOOSE NOT TO TALK
TO THEM AT ALL.
BUT ACTUALLY, THERE IS
ANOTHER CHOICE.
WE CAN GIVE UP OUR ATTEMPTS
AT CONTROL, LET THE PERSON
DO THEIR WORST AND SEE
WHAT GOD WILL DO.
BUT IT'S NEVER QUITE
THAT STRAIGHTFORWARD; IS IT?
JUST ASK DAVID.
WHEN WE LEFT DAVID THE SCENT
OF VICTORY PERMEATED HIM.
A YOUNG SHEPHERD BOY HAD
ACCOMPLISHED WHAT NO WARRIOR
WOULD EVEN ATTEMPT.
DAVID'S WORLD CHANGED
THE DAY HE KILLED GOLIATH.
HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO RETURN
TO THE LIFE HE KNEW.
HE WAS BROUGHT INTO
THE PALACE.
BUT WHEN KING SAUL SAW THE WAY
THE PEOPLE LOVED DAVID
HE DID WHAT ALL PEOPLE DO
WHEN THEY HAVEN'T SURRENDERED
TO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD,
HE PLOTTED TO GET RID
OF THE THREAT.
DAVID DIDN'T SEE IT COMING
BECAUSE HE'D DONE ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING TO DESERVE IT.
IN FACT, SAUL'S EVIL PLANS
CAME ON THE HEELS OF
DAVID'S VICTORY OVER GOLIATH.
BUT IF SAUL'S ANTAGONISM
WAS EXTREME, SO WAS HIS SON
JONATHAN'S DEVOTION TO DAVID.
MANY WRITERS PAINT PICTURES
OF DAVID AND JONATHAN
AS IF THEY WERE
TWO GIDDY TEENAGERS BUT
THAT'S ACTUALLY
FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
YOU HAD TO BE 20 YEARS OLD
TO BE IN THE ARMY
OF THE ISRAELITES.
NOW DAVID WAS ONLY 18 BUT
SAUL MADE HIM A HIGH RANKING
OFFICER IN THE HOPES THAT
DAVID WOULD BE KILLED
IN BATTLE.
BUT JONATHAN, HE WAS ALREADY
COMMANDING A THIRD
OF THE ARMY AND HAD WON
TWO GREAT VICTORIES.
SO IT WAS QUITE POSSIBLE
THAT JONATHAN WAS CLOSER
TO AGE 40.
WHAT'S MORE SIGNIFICANT
ABOUT THIS IS THAT JONATHAN
STOOD IN DIRECT LINE
TO THE THRONE.
ALTHOUGH HE WAS A MATURE,
SEASONED OFFICER HE RECOGNIZED
THE HAND OF GOD ON HIS FRIEND
DAVID AND UNLIKE HIS FATHER,
HE SUBMITTED TO GOD'S CHOICE.
CLEARLY, JONATHAN LONGED
MORE FOR THE WILL OF GOD
THAN HIS OWN POSITION.
BUT STILL, SAUL WAS KING
AND HE WANTED DAVID
OUT OF THE WAY.
SO DAVID WAS FORCED
TO ABANDON THE PALACE
AND LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND.
EVEN THOUGH DAVID KNEW
HE WAS THE LORD'S CHOSEN ONE
HE DID NOT RETALIATE
OR FORCE HIS HAND.
HE DIDN'T TRY TO SWAY OTHERS
TO HIS SIDE.
INSTEAD, HE LEFT -- ALONE.
THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME
ABOUT DAVID'S HEART.
WHEN WE'RE WRONGED, WE WANT
PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
LIKE WHEN THERE IS
A CHURCH SPLIT WE RARELY
LEAVE ALONE.
IF OUR FAMILY FALLS APART
WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
OUR SIDE OF THE STORY.
WE'RE AFRAID THAT LEAVING
BY OURSELVES SIGNALS TO
PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ADMITTING
WE WERE IN THE WRONG.
BUT IT CAN MEAN SOMETHING
SO MUCH GREATER.
IT CAN MEAN WE HAVE
COMPLETELY SURRENDERED CONTROL
OF OUR FUTURE TO GOD.
SO DAVID LEFT ALONE
WHICH WAS A GOOD THING.
BUT THEN HE MADE A VERY
POOR CHOICE THAT COST
SOME GODLY MEN AND
THEIR FAMILIES THEIR LIVES.
DAVID RAN TO THE HIGH PRIEST
AHIMELECH IN THE TOWN OF NOB.
WHEN THE PRIEST SAW DAVID
ALONE, HE KNEW THAT
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
IT MADE NO SENSE THAT DAVID
WHO WAS COMMANDER OF
THE ROYAL BODYGUARD
WAS THERE ON HIS OWN.
BUT INSTEAD OF CONFIDING
IN AHIMELECH DAVID LIED;
HE TOLD HIM HE WAS ON
A SECRET MISSION FOR SAUL
AND THAT HIS MEN WOULD
BE JOINING HIM SOON.
HE WAS SO DESPERATE TO CONTROL
AN OUT-OF-CONTROL SITUATION
THAT INSTEAD OF WAITING ON GOD
FOR THE NEXT STEP
HE CAME UP WITH IT HIMSELF.
THAT'S SO EASY TO DO.
IT SEEMS INNOCENT ENOUGH.
DAVID DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO
ANSWER A TON OF QUESTIONS SO
OUT OF FEAR HE TOOK CONTROL.
HE ASKED THE HIGH PRIEST
FOR BREAD AND A WEAPON AND
THEN LEFT BUT UNFORTUNATELY
NOT BEFORE BEING SEEN
BY SAUL'S CHIEF HERDSMEN.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS
WATCHING WHEN YOU'RE SOMEPLACE
YOU SHOULDN'T BE.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT
ONE MORE TIME.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS WATCHING
WHEN YOU'RE SOMEPLACE
YOU SHOULDN'T BE.
YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THE LIE
YOU TOLD WILL ESCALATE.
IF DAVID HAD RELINQUISHED
COMPLETE CONTROL TO GOD
AND TOLD THE TRUTH,
THE PRIEST WOULD HAVE JUST
ASKED HIM TO LEAVE BECAUSE
HIS ALLEGIANCE WAS
TO THE KING BUT INSTEAD
THE PRIEST GAVE DAVID
EVERYTHING HE ASKED FOR.
MEANWHILE SAUL HEARD THAT
DAVID WAS HIDING OUT
WITH A RAG TAG BUNCH OF MEN.
THEY WERE HARDLY AN ARMY.
INSTEAD THEY'RE DESCRIBED
AS MEN IN TROUBLE, IN DEBT, OR
JUST PLAIN FED UP WITH LIFE.
BUT SAUL WANTED DAVID'S HEAD,
AND WHEN HE WENT OFF
ON A TIRADE THE HERDSMEN
WHO HAD SEEN DAVID WITH
THE HIGH PRIEST SPOKE UP.
AND BY DOING SO HE SIGNED
THE DEATH WARRANT OF NOT ONLY
THE HIGH PRIEST BUT ALSO
84 OTHER PRIESTS
WHO SERVED WITH HIM.
SAUL ORDERED THE HIGH PRIEST
TO BE BROUGHT TO HIM.
THIS HUMBLE SERVANT OF GOD
WAS DRAGGED IN LIKE
A COMMON CRIMINAL.
THEN SAUL ORDERED HIS MEN
TO KILL ALL 85 OF THE PRIESTS
OF NOB AND THEIR WIVES
AND CHILDREN TOO.
THEY REFUSED.
ONLY THE HERDSMEN OBEYED SAUL.
ONE BOY ESCAPED.
HE RAN AND RAN UNTIL
HE FOUND AND TOLD DAVID ABOUT
THE MASSACRE OF EVERYONE
HE KNEW AND EVERYONE HE LOVED.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW DAVID
MUST HAVE FELT, ESPECIALLY
AS A MAN WITH A TENDER HEART
TOWARD GOD AND OTHERS
TO REALIZE THAT INADVERTENTLY
HE'D CAUSED THE DEATHS
OF SO MANY MUST HAVE BEEN
-- ALMOST BEEN
AN UNBEARABLE BURDEN.
ONE MOMENT OF GRABBING CONTROL
WHEN HE FELT HE HAD TO COME UP
WITH A PLAN OF HIS OWN
HAD ENDED WITH TRAGIC
REPERCUSSIONS THAT COST
SO MANY SO MUCH.
WELL, DAVID, HE COULDN'T
CHANGE WHAT EVIL HAD OCCURRED.
HE COULDN'T UNDO THE DAMAGE
HE'D DONE; ALL HE COULD DO NOW
WAS LIVE DIFFERENTLY
AND WISER.
AND IT'S THE SAME FOR US.
WHEN WE'VE GRABBED CONTROL
OF A SITUATION THAT
WE SHOULD HAVE LEFT ALONE
OR LEFT SOMETHING UNDONE
WE SHOULD HAVE DONE,
WE CAN'T GO BACK.
BUT BY GOD'S GRACE
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
MY DEAR FRIEND BARBARA JOHNSON
PROFOUNDLY LIVED OUT THIS
TRUTH OF FORWARD MOMENTUM.
I KNEW HER AS
A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
BUT I'D NEVER MET HER
AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE EXTENT
OF HER HEARTBREAKING STORY
UNTIL I INVITED HER TO BE
A GUEST ON MY TELEVISION SHOW.
AND HONESTLY, SHE DIDN'T LOOK
LIKE A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR,
SHE LOOKED LIKE MY MUM.
SHE WAS WEARING A BRIGHT
PURPLE DRESS AND HAD
THE SAME SHAMPOO AND SET
I'VE DONE FOR MY MUM
A HUNDRED TIMES.
BUT WHEN SHE BEGAN TO TALK
HER STORY INSTANTLY
CAPTIVATED ME.
SHE SPOKE ABOUT WHAT
IT WAS LIKE TO WALK INTO
A COLD STERILE STRANGE
SMELLING ROOM TO IDENTIFY
HER YOUNGEST SON SENT HOME
FROM VIETNAM IN A BODY BAG.
AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT
THEY GOT IT WRONG.
"THAT'S NOT MY SON!"
SHE CRIED BUT IT WAS.
THE HORRIBLE REALITY WAS
THAT HE HAD BEEN LYING
FACE DOWN IN A RICE PADDY
FOR THREE DAYS AND WAS
UNRECOGNIZABLE AS
HER BABY BOY.
BARBARA LOST HER ELDEST SON
TOO IN A DEVASTATING CAR CRASH
SOMEWHERE IN CANADA.
ONCE MORE SHE HAD TO GO
TO THE VERY SAME MORGUE
AND IDENTIFY ANOTHER SON.
I COULD HARDLY BREATHE
AS SHE TALKED.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE
THE HORROR OF ALL THAT.
BUT BARBARA SAID IT WAS
HER THIRD SON IN A VERY
DIFFERENT SITUATION THAT
TAUGHT HER THE GREATEST
LESSON ABOUT CONTROL.
SHE WAS SORTING THROUGH
SOME THINGS IN
HER SON DAVID'S ROOM
AND CAME ACROSS A PILE
OF HOMOSEXUAL PORNOGRAPHY.
IT HORRIFIED HER.
THIS SON WAS THEIR GOLDEN BOY
WITH SUCH A BRIGHT FUTURE
AHEAD OF HIM.
WHEN SHE CONFRONTED HIM WITH
WHAT SHE'D DISCOVERED
THE CONVERSATION WENT
VERY BADLY.
HE TOLD HER HE'D KNOWN
FOR SOME TIME THAT HE WAS GAY.
SHE WAS HURT AND SHE WAS ANGRY
AND SHE SAID THINGS THAT
SHE LATER REGRETTED BUT IT WAS
TOO LATE TO TAKE THEM BACK.
HER SON DAVID LEFT AND
SHE DIDN'T SEE HIM AGAIN
FOR SEVEN YEARS.
SEVEN YEARS IS A LONG TIME
TO BE SEPARATED FROM
YOUR CHILD, PARTICULARLY WHEN
YOU'VE ALREADY BURIED TWO.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS
OR IF HE WERE DEAD OR ALIVE.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN
IN A DEVASTATING PLACE
LIKE THAT?
IT MIGHT BE A WORD
OR AN ACTION THAT YOU JUST
CANNOT TAKE BACK.
IT MIGHT BE HOW YOUR CHILD
IS LIVING RIGHT NOW
AND YOU'VE NO CONTROL
OVER THAT CHILD'S BEHAVIOR.
IT MIGHT BE A MARRIAGE
THAT'S BROKEN BECAUSE
OF SOMETHING YOU SAID OR DID
AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL
OVER WHETHER YOUR SPOUSE
WILL FORGIVE YOU.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
YOU DO WHAT DAVID DID
WHEN HE WAS ON THE RUN WITH
A FEW DISENFRANCHISED MEN.
YOU DO WHAT BARBARA CHOSE
TO DO BY GOD'S GRACE;
YOU REDEEM THE SITUATION
IN THE MEANTIME.
AND YES, WAITING CAN BE
A VERY MEAN TIME.
DURING THE YEARS THAT
BARBARA'S SON WAS GONE
FROM HER LIFE SHE STARTED
SOMETHING CALLED
SPATULA MINISTRIES FOR MOMS
WHO NEED TO BE SCRAPED OFF
THE CEILING BECAUSE OF
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
NOT ONLY THAT, SHE BEGAN
TO REACH OUT TO THOSE
WITH AIDS.
YEARS LATER, I ASKED BARBARA
HOW SHE SURVIVED
THOSE DIFFICULT YEARS.
SHE TOLD ME THAT WHEN
YOU GIVE YOUR HEARTACHE
AND PAIN TO GOD AND TRUST HIM
WITH THE OUTCOME
THERE'S SUCH FREEDOM.
SHE WAS ACTUALLY MOST KNOWN
FOR THE PHRASE,
"WHATEVER LORD."
CAN YOU DO THAT?
CAN YOU BRING WHAT FEELS
SO OUT OF CONTROL TO GOD
KNOWING HE IS GOOD AND
HE LOVES YOU AND TRUST HIM
WITH THE TIMING?
CAN YOU BRING THE THING
THAT YOU LONG TO FIX TO GOD,
GIVE IT TO HIM AND TRUST HIM
WITH THE OUTCOME?
♪
Sheila: QUITE A CHALLENGE!
BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE
STRANGE DICHOTOMIES IN LIFE
THAT WHEN YOU COME TO
THE PLACE WHERE YOU'RE
ABLE TO SAY, OKAY,
I'M RELINQUISHING CONTROL,
I'M GIVING UP, YOU ACTUALLY
DISCOVER THAT YOU'RE FREER
AND MORE SECURE
THAN YOU'VE EVER BEEN.
SOMETHING THAT I'VE NOTICED
IN MY LAST TRIP WHEN
I WAS IN ANGOLA, AFRICA,
WE HAVE THIS PHENOMENAL
PRIVILEGE THROUGH LIFE
AND YOU'VE HELPED US
DO THIS SO MANY TIMES,
TO GIVE A BOWL OF FOOD
TO A HUNGRY CHILD,
TO PUT A WATER WELL IN
AND SEE WATER FOR LIFE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD
THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING
ON MY LAST TRIP WAS
TO PUT A PAIR OF SHOES
ON A LITTLE BOY WHO HAD
NEVER HAD SHOES IN HIS LIFE.
HE WAS QUITE
A LITTLE CHARACTER.
HE WOULDN'T SMILE AT ME
IN THE FEEDING LINE AND
YET HE FOLLOWED ME AROUND
ALL THE TIME WE WERE
IN HIS CAMP.
I REMEMBER AND I SAID TO ONE
OF OUR TEAM, "DON'T WE HAVE
A PAIR OF SHOES LEFT?"
AND THEY SAID, "YEAH, WE DO.
THEY'RE IN THE TRUCK."
SO I WENT AND GOT THEM
AND I SAT THIS LITTLE BOY
RIGHT BESIDE ME AND
I PUT THE SHOES ON HIM.
HE STILL WOULDN'T SMILE.
BUT BOY, YOU SHOULD HAVE
SEEN HIM WHEN HE FINALLY
JUMPED OFF THAT WALL.
HE WENT RUNNING AROUND THE
VILLAGE SHOWING EVERYBODY.
SO LITTLE CAN DO SO MUCH.
SO WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU
TO JOIN US IN SOMETHING
BUT FIRST OF ALL, KIND OF
WANT TO TAKE YOU WITH US
AND LET YOU SEE WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE.
SO HERE'S THIS FEED.
PLEASE WATCH THIS.
Sheila: IT'S BEEN
QUITE AN AMAZING YEAR.
THROUGH YOUR HELP
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FEED
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF CHILDREN.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT
WATER WELLS IN VILLAGES.
AND ALSO, A NEW VENTURE
YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER,
FOR THE FIRST TIME
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
WORK WITH CHILDREN
WHO HAVE
CLUBFOOT.
YOU HAVE HELPED US CHANGE
THE LIVES OF CHILDREN
ALL AROUND
THE WORLD.
AT CHRISTMAS TIME I KNOW
THAT YOU THINK OF YOUR KIDS
AND YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING
REALLY SPECIAL FOR THEM.
WELL, I ALSO KNOW
YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING
REALLY SPECIAL
FOR CHILDREN
LIKE THESE.
IF YOU LOOK AT
THIS DARLING LITTLE ONE,
HERE IN ANGOLA,
HE IS LIKE EVERY OTHER
LITTLE BOY OR GIRL I'VE SEEN,
HE HAS
NO SHOES.
WE FELT, WOULDN'T IT BE COOL
TO BE ABLE TO LET
EVERY BOY AND GIRL
HAVE THEIR VERY OWN
PAIR OF SHOES?
NOT JUST BECAUSE
IT WILL SAVE THEM
FROM CUTTING THEIR FEET
WHEN THEY RUN
BUT SO MANY DISEASES
IN THESE COUNTRIES
COME THROUGH INJURIES
TO THE FOOT,
LIKE HOOKWORM COMES
THROUGH THE FOOT.
SO WHAT A WONDERFUL THING
TO DO IN THIS SEASON TO SAY
TO THE LITTLE ONES LIKE THIS LITTLE DARLING BOY IN ANGOLA,
HEY! YOU CAN HAVE YOUR
VERY OWN PAIR OF SHOES.
SO ON BEHALF OF
MY LITTLE BROTHER,
MAY I SIMPLY SAY
OBRIGADA.
Sheila: AND THAT WAS THE
EXTENT OF MY VOCABULARY.
THAT'S ALL I KNOW
IN THAT LANGUAGE.
BUT HONESTLY,
ISN'T THAT AMAZING?
TO SEE THE LOOK ON THAT
LITTLE BOY'S FACE
WHEN HE TOOK OFF.
SO HERE'S WHAT I'M THINKING.
DO YOU EVER GET KIND OF FED UP
OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON
BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXCESS?
-- TOO MUCH FOOD,
TOO MUCH SPENDING.
SO HERE'S THE DEAL, WE'RE
GOING TO CHANGE ALL THAT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO CHANGE
THE LIVES OF SOME CHILDREN.
SO I WANT TO GET
THIS DVD TO YOU.
I PRAYED OVER THIS.
I ASKED GOD TO HELP ME
HELP YOU.
SO HERE'S THE DEAL.
FOR ANY GIFT AT ALL
WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU THIS.
THIS IS DARLING.
THIS IS A LITTLE
CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT
OF ONE OF OUR SHOES,
AN EXACT REPLICA.
NOW FOR ANY GIFT YOU SEND IN
WE'LL SEND YOU THAT AND
WE'LL SEND YOU THE DVD.
BUT IF YOU SEND US $180
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU --
LOOK AT THIS!
THESE ARE ALL THE LITTLE
CHRISTMAS SHOES WE'VE OFFERED
OVER THE YEARS.
THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL,
LOTS OF DIFFERENT COLORS.
$180 WILL HELP PROVIDE
50 PAIRS OF SHOES!
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
NOT ONLY ARE WE DOING THAT,
WE'RE DOING SOMETHING REALLY
SPECIAL FOR SOME CHILDREN.
IN FACT, I'M THINKING OF ONE
LITTLE ONE IN PARTICULAR.
THIS LITTLE ONE HAD
A VERY SEVERE CLEFT PALATE.
I DON'T KNOW YOU IF YOU KNOW
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BUT
IT IS HARD TO LOOK AT.
BUT HERE'S SOMETHING
I HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF.
HE HAD NEVER SEEN WHAT
HE LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE MIRRORS.
AND WHILE OUR CREW
WAS OVER THERE,
IT IS SOMETHING WE DO
ALL THE TIME OVER THERE,
WE TAKE A PHOTO OF THEM
AND THEN WE'LL LET THEM
SEE THEMSELVES.
THEY THINK IT'S SO FUNNY.
THEY ALWAYS LAUGH.
NOT THIS LITTLE ONE.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME
HE HAD EVER SEEN WHAT
HE LOOKED LIKE
AND HE WAS HORRIFIED.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS OKAY, DUDE,
WE'RE NOT BAILING ON YOU NOW.
WE'RE NOT JUST GOING
TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE
NOW BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO
ALL THE WAY WITH YOU.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET
A SURGERY FOR THAT LITTLE BOY
AND NOW HE HAS A SMILE
ON HIS FACE.
AND HONESTLY, IT DOESN'T
TAKE THAT MUCH.
THINK OF THE TIMES YOU THINK,
WHY DID I BUY MY KIDS
53 PRESENTS WHEN 52 PROBABLY
WOULD HAVE DONE?
BUT THIS MAKES
SUCH A DIFFERENCE.
DO YOU KNOW WE GET THESE SHOES
FOR JUST OVER $3?
WE WORK WITH THIS
GREAT COMPANY WHO SAID,
"HEY! WE'LL HELP YOU DO THIS."
I'VE WATCHED ALL OF
THESE CHILDREN
IN THESE VILLAGES.
I'VE WALKED DOWN TO WATER
WELLS WITH THEM WHERE EVEN IN
MY BOOTS MY FEET ARE HURTING
BECAUSE OF THE ROCKS
AND THESE CHILDREN HAVE
TO WALK WITH NO SHOES ON.
JUST TO THINK THAT
A LITTLE ONE THROUGH
A SIMPLE CUT ON THEIR FOOT
WOULD GET HOOKWORM THAT
ACTUALLY CAN END THEIR LIVES.
SO PLEASE, LET'S MAKE THIS
THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER
FOR YOUR FAMILY AND FOR
THE FAMILIES OVERSEAS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT MEANS
TO A MOTHER THERE?
TO THINK THAT A MOTHER,
A FATHER, A TEENAGER
SOMEWHERE WATCHING THIS
PROGRAM THOUGHT, NO, NO.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING
FOR YOU.
SO PLEASE, WILL YOU GO
TO YOUR PHONE RIGHT NOW AND
MAKE THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT
YOU CAN OR GO ONLINE
LIFETODAY.ORG AND LET'S
MAKE THIS A CHRISTMAS
TO REMEMBER.
Announcer:
POVERTY IS A KILLER
AND BECAUSE OF IT
CHILDREN NEEDLESSLY SUFFER
NOT ONLY FROM A LACK
OF FOOD AND CLEAN WATER
BUT ALSO FROM A LACK OF
THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED
SUCH AS
A HEALTHY SMILE
OR A SIMPLE
PAIR OF SHOES.
FOR MOST OF
THESE CHILDREN
THEY'VE NEVER OWNED
A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.
WHILE THAT MAY SEEN MINOR IN
THE LIGHT OF ALL THEIR NEEDS,
WALKING WITH
BARE FEET
PUTS THEM AT RISK OF
LIFE-THREATENING INFECTIONS
THAT COULD LEAD
TO CRIPPLING CONSEQUENCES,
DISEASE,
AND EVEN DEATH.
BY RESPONDING TODAY
YOU CAN HELP LIFE
IMMEDIATELY SECURE AND BEGIN SHIPPING CHRISTMAS SHOES
TO 150,000 CHILDREN
AROUND THE WORLD
JUST IN TIME
FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
YOUR GIFT OF $36 WILL HELP PROVIDE TEN PAIRS OF SHOES.
A GIFT OF $72 WILL
HELP PROVIDE 20 PAIR,
AND A GIFT OF $180
WILL HELP PROVIDE
50 PAIRS OF CHRISTMAS SHOES
FOR CHILDREN
IN NEED.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT,
BE SURE TO REQUEST
THIS BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED
BLUE METAL SHOE ORNAMENT,
A TREASURE TO PLACE ON YOUR
TREE EACH HOLIDAY SEASON.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $180 OR MORE
YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST
THIS KEEPSAKE BOXED SET
OF LIFE'S CHRISTMAS
SHOE ORNAMENTS.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP PROVIDE
OVER 275 PAIRS OF SHOES
OR TWO CHILDREN
WITH CORRECTIVE
CLEFT PALATE SURGERIES.
AND YOU MAY REQUEST
OUR MAJESTY BRONZE SCULPTURE
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR
MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY!
James: HERE IS ONE GROUP OF
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.
THESE CHILDREN ARE
IN CENTRAL AMERICA
AND THESE ARE JUST
A FEW OF THE CHILDREN
THAT WE WANT TO BLESS
WITH PAIRS OF SHOES.
YOU THINK ABOUT THAT!
AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO
FOR THEIR FAMILY.
I'VE SAID TO YOU
OVER AND OVER,
THAT IT IS ONE THING
TO PRAY FOR PEOPLE
BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING
TO BECOME AN ANSWER
TO SOMEBODY'S PRAYER,
SOMEONE'S NEED.
THE BIBLE TELLS US CLEARLY
IN ONE PLACE AS AN EXAMPLE,
MANY PLACES BUT ONE
VERY CLEARLY, ISAIAH 58,
THAT WHEN YOU REACH OUT
AND YOU TOUCH THOSE IN NEED,
THEN YOU CALL AND GOD SAYS,
"I WILL ANSWER QUICKLY."
WE GET OUR PRAYERS
ANSWERED.
AND BETTY, IT'S BEEN AMAZING
TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED
IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE JUST
BEGAN TO BLESS OTHERS
AND GIVING SHOES IS ONE WAY
TO BLESS OTHERS.
Betty: IT IS! AND TO ME, IT IS
SUCH A REWARDING THING TO DO.
WE COME OVER HERE
TO BE A BLESSING
BUT WE ALWAYS GO BACK
SO MUCH MORE BLESSED, JAMES.
BECAUSE WE SEE
WHAT CAN BE DONE,
WE SEE THE NEEDS HERE,
BUT WE KNOW THAT OUR FRIENDS,
BECAUSE THEY LOVE CHILDREN,
THEY LOVE TO GIVE,
THEY LOVE TO SHARE --
THAT'S YOU I'M TALKING ABOUT
-- YOU LOVE TO HELP ANY NEED
THAT WE SHARE WITH YOU.
THIS IS A REAL NEED --
SHOES FOR THE CHILDREN!
Sheila: THANKS SO MUCH!
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WAY
THAT YOU PARTNER WITH US.
BUT HERE'S THE AMAZING NEWS.
DO YOU KNOW THAT FOR $1,000
YOU CAN PROVIDE TWO SURGERIES?
THAT'S TWO CHILDREN'S LIVES
CHANGED FOREVER.
SO MAYBE YOU TALK TO YOUR
HUSBAND OR WIFE, IN FACT,
MY HUSBAND AND I, WE'VE
ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT.
WE'VE DECIDED THAT FOR
CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO EACH OTHER
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE
TWO SURGERIES.
WHAT A JOY!
WHO NEEDS ONE MORE PAIR
OF SHOES FOR THEMSELVES
OR ANOTHER SWEATER?
NOW YOU DON'T NEED ONE MORE
UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER.
BUT IF YOU WILL GIVE US
ANY GIFT WE'LL SEND YOU
THIS DVD THAT I HOPE
WILL BLESS YOU.
BUT ALSO WE WILL BE ABLE
TO PUT SHOES ON THE FEET
OF CHILDREN AND A SMILE
ON THE FACE OF CHILDREN
THAT MIGHT HAVE NEVER
SMILED BEFORE.
LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
♪
♪
♪
♪
Announcer:
AARON AND AMANDA CRABB
-- TOMORROW
ON LIFE TODAY!
>> LIFE TODAY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL.
YOUR GIFT WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF LIFE.
THE MINISTRY FEATURES
SPECIFIC OUTREACHES
AS EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAMS
IT SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS.
GIFTS ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE WITHOUT RESTRICTION
AS TO USE UNLESS EXPLICITLY
STIPULATED BY THE DONOR.
THE MINISTRY IS A MEMBER
OF THE E.C.F.A.