I’ve Been Blessed
Kathy Walsh loved to sit at her father’s feet and listen to his stories. Tom Walsh had lived a hard life, growing up in an orphanage and scrounging for food. In spite of his hardships he always felt that “God was watching over,” and his thankfulness came through in his stories. His daughter’s favorite story was about World War II.230
Before going overseas, Tom spent time with one of his few living relatives, a cousin living in California. The cousin had a young daughter who was sick while he was there, and he spent days with her, nursing her back to health. He eventually reached Italy where he was assigned to an airbase near Naples. One evening the Germans bombed his base, and Tom was wounded severely in the head and neck. A rescue crew thought he was dead and actually placed him on a “death pile.”
In California, a young girl woke up screaming in the night. “Uncle Tom!” she shouted. “He’s all bloody, his head is covered with blood!” The mother of the little girl, Tom’s cousin, called the Red Cross, but was unable to get any information. She was convinced that something had happened to Tom, but she also believed that he had survived. She sent him a telegram, giving him assurance that he would be all right. Meanwhile, an alert medic had discovered that Tom was still alive and had gotten him to a hospital.
After hearing the story, Kathy asked her father, “Was it ESP? Do you believe in Extra-Sensory Perception, Dad?” He answered, “I believe God found a way to let my family know I was all right. The message to my cousin’s little girl was God’s way of watching over me. I’ve been blessed, you know!”231
Tom Walsh was a man of faith. He chose to see the events in his life in a positive light and as evidence of God’s protection. His faith saw him through his trials and was an incalculable blessing to him and to his daughter.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
—Hebrews 4:16