You are my Sunshine.......
Author Unknown
Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what
she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out
that the new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael
sang to his sister in Mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister
before he even met her. The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of
the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. In time, the labor
pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three ...every minute. But serious
complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Would a
C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born.
But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance
rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital,
Knoxville,
Tennessee. The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the
parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." Karen and her
husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room
in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a
funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents let him see his sister. "I want to
sing to her," he kept saying.
Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week
was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in
Intensive Care. Karen made up her mind, though. She would take Michael whether they liked
it or not! If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed
him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking
laundry basket. But the head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that
kid out of here now! No children are allowed." The mother rose up strong in Karen,
and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her
lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!"
Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle
to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old,
Michael sang:
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray
---" Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm
down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with
tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my
sunshine away-"As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing
became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart!!!" "The
other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..."
Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her.
"Keep on singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head
nurse. Karen glowed. "You are my sunshine, my only Sunshine. Please don't, take my
sunshine away..." The next, day...the very next day...the little girl was well enough
to go home!
Woman's Day Magazine called it "The Miracle of a Brother's Song." The medical
staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love!
NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. Please send this to
all the people that have touched
your life in some way. Life is good. Have a Wonderful Day!
When you receive this e-mail just recite the following prayer. That's all
you have to do. There is nothing attached. This is the power
of prayer at work. Just send this to (4) people and see what happens on the
fourth day. Do not break this, please. There is no cost, but lots of
rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another.
PRAYER:
May today there be peace within you. May you trust
God that you are exactly
where you are meant to be. May you not forget the
infinite possibilities
that are born of faith. May you use those gifts
that you have received, and
pass on the love that has been given to you. May you
be content knowing that
you are a child of God. Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow
your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in
the sun. It is there for each and every one of you.
© 2008 Tending the Garden, All Rights Reserved. Founded 10-1-1994