A Treasury of Miracles for Teens Read Free Page B

and Amy like no one in my life, Erin. Sometimes I think it’s part of what we
     prayed for that day on the beach.”
    Erin’s voice grew quiet. “I never thought of it that way …”
    “I mean, who would’ve thought? All those years ago I was saving that girl to one day be the love of my life. Back then I knew
     it was an answer to a prayer that we survived. But now I see it was more than that. It was a miracle, Erin. Nothing short
     of a miracle.”

Save a Place for Me …
    A t age sixteen, Julie Keller wanted nothing more than for her twin brother, Jared, to live another year. One more Christmas,
     one more spring. One more summer when they could stay up late and play cards, teasing each other about the school year ahead.
     But that hot August night she found herself in a hospital waiting room begging God for something much more specific.
    One more day.
    Jared had been born with cystic fibrosis, a debilitating lung disease. It wasn’t a question of whether the illness would take
     Jared’s life. It was just a question of when. “If we’re lucky, he’ll live to his mid-twenties,” doctors had told the Keller
     family.
    And Julie’s parents agreed. They had lived a life separate from faith and their son’s illness only underlined their belief:
     “God isn’t real, prayer doesn’t work, and miracles don’t happen,” their father would say on occasion. “It’s that simple.”
    But Julie and Jared didn’t agree. When they were thirteen, they’d been invited to a Young Life camp with some friends from
     school. There, they gave their lives to God and together they’d found rides to church every week since. As long as Jared was
     well enough to attend, anyway. And when he couldn’t she’d stay by his side. They’d talk about church and about school and
     all that went on there.
    “Keep praying for me, Julie,” Jared would say. “I’ll be back.”
    “I won’t stop.” Julie would hide her tears and smile.
    “Save a spot at the lunch table, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    It was a conversation they’d had many times.
    In the past month, Jared had seemed to be doing better than ever. He and Julie went to the Young Life camp again, this time
     as counselors. Their friendship had never been closer than it was those long days, swimming and taking part in a handful of
     activities day after day.
    But the day after they returned home, Jared began coughing. A person with cystic fibrosis lives with the constant threat of
     pneumonia. By the next day, it was clear that’s what Jared had, and their parents rushed him to the hospital. Over the years,
     Jared had suffered with pneumonia more times than Julie could remember. But this time was the worstany of them could remember. Immediately doctors began antibiotics and placed Jared on oxygen.
    That had been two days ago. Now, doctors had just met with the Keller family and told them the situation.
    “I can’t promise anything,” the doctor had told them. “I’m sorry. It doesn’t look like he’s going to make it this time.”
    Their parents held on to each other and wept when the doctors left the room. With all her heart, Julie wanted to tell them
     to pray, to beg God for a miracle. But she’d tried that before and every time her parents shut her down. “We don’t believe,”
     they’d tell her. “Don’t push your faith on us.”
    So Julie watched them without saying a word. Finally her mother turned to her, her eyes still wet with tears. “We’re going
     to the cafeteria for some coffee. Wanna come?”
    “No … I’ll wait here.” Julie managed a weak smile. “In case Jared needs me.” The moment they were gone, Julie exhaled long
     and slow.
    God,
she prayed silently,
don’t let my brother die. The two of us share everything.
That had been true ever since they were small children, but especially once they entered high school. Julie was a cheerleader,
     popular and outgoing, with dozens of friends. Jared was quieter, slender and weak from his