Every year, shortly before Christmas, I go to the same office to take care of some personal paperwork. My visit there is usually made easy by the help of Judy, one of the office staff. I always considered Judy a godsend.

Last year, after several minutes of introductory chat, Judy burst into tears. Her husband's cancer had returned--he had already had one tumor removed from his liver--and the doctors said he didn't have long to live. "Thomas is only 42," said a tearful Judy, "and our two sons are so young!" Judy was beside herself with concern for Thomas and worry over their future.

I prayed with her for her own peace of mind and for God to heal Thomas, if it was God's will.

Judy smiled and thanked me for having taken the time to talk and pray with her.

When I phoned Judy the next day, she told me Thomas was scheduled for a thorough checkup a few weeks later, at which time they would have a better idea how much longer he had to live. We arranged to talk some more when I returned to her office to finish my paperwork before the New Year.

Several weeks later, Christmas had come and gone but strains of "O Come All Ye Faithful" were still running through my mind as I got together some things for Judy and Thomas to read--some leaflets and a booklet of comforting thoughts and promises for the dying and bereaved, Glimpses of Heaven. They were going to need lots of encouragement and strength from God's Word, I figured.

When I arrived at the office, Judy was not at her desk. I supposed she was with her husband. Surely she was more needed at his side than in the office at this time.

Then suddenly Judy entered the room, and when she saw me, she lit up like a light bulb! She explained that at Thomas's last checkup, the same doctors who had shown him a clear image of the cancerous tumor on the ultrasound screen before we prayed for his healing couldn't find any trace of it now. It had completely disappeared, and the doctors were baffled.

Judy and Thomas were ecstatic. They had wanted to phone me to share the wonderful news, but hadn't been able to find my number. Judy and I rejoiced together, right there in the office.

As I looked down at the Glimpses of Heaven booklet still in my hand, I realized how little faith I had had that God would answer our prayers. I felt a little embarrassed about that, but very happy that God had given both Judy and Thomas a most wonderful Christmas gift--the gift of life.

Thomas imports baked goods and had given his wife a bag of biscuits (cookies) especially for me, as a little thank-you gift for praying for him. Then it was my turn to cry.

Michael Palace is a volunteer with The Family in Taiwan.