Her Name Was Jane

HIS Story Begins

When I first met Jane E. Wolfe, I knew nothing about her. I had no idea God had divinely arranged our meeting. I just thought I was visiting a lonely and elderly woman in a nursing home as a way to keep my life balanced during a very difficult and unsettling time. It wasn't until I finally met Jane's Power of Attorney, during the last few days of Jane's earthly life, that the magnitude of all that had transpired began to become clear. I learned for the first time about Jane's life history, the severity of her health limitations, her inability to speak, what brought her to Indiana, and the decision that was made to extend Jane's life. It was shocking and humbling. As I listened, I began to understand just how miraculous the last sixteen months had been.

And my understanding was just beginning.

Even though Jane and I had never met before, there was nothing awkward about our first meeting. We freely conversed about ourselves and life. It was like two old school friends getting together and having a warm and comfortable conversation. At the time, I had no way of knowing our special time together was extraordinarily remarkable. I didn't know Jane had not been able to speak above a whisper for decades, or that since the onset of her dementia she could no longer actively participate in engaging conversations. I would have never guessed any of that during our first meeting. Jane's voice was clear and strong, and together we intelligently discussed many things. There wasn't even a hint of anything indicative of debilitating physical limitations, and I saw no evidence of diminished mental capabilities.

At the end of our very first meeting Jane took my hand and while gripping it firmly, raised both of our hands above her head without any effort at all. She held our joined hands lifted to the heavens as she prayed an incredible prayer of blessing over my life. I didn't know Jane had Parkinson's disease and very limited physical strength or mobility. I didn't know that it was physically impossible for Jane, in her own strength and power, to lift our hands over her head. I didn't know she struggled to have the strength to even lift a spoon in order to feed herself. At our first meeting Jane was sitting in a recliner chair in the corner of the room. I didn't know Jane could no longer walk and the nursing home staff had placed her in the chair. I didn't know about any of Jane's physical limitations or her advanced dementia.

Our first long and enjoyable conversation turned out to be the first and last time Jane and I were able to share a conversation together. I never again saw Jane sitting alert in her recliner chair. Instead, Jane was usually either lying in her bed unresponsive, or sleeping in her wheelchair with her head slumped forward, totally unaware of her surroundings. Nevertheless, for sixteen months, I weekly drove to the nursing home to visit Jane. I spent our times together reading to her from one of her well-worn Bibles and carrying on an one-sided conversation. Jane rarely made any attempt to speak, but when she did speak—I listened.  Amazingly, in spite of her advanced dementia and her difficulty in forming and speaking words, Jane effortlessly spoke succinct and pertinent words of wisdom, promise and provision with clarity and purpose at pivotal times in our lives. 

Jane's spoken words could not have been her own. The words Jane spoke can only be described as Holy Spirit inspired messages from God.

I just thought I was visiting an elderly woman in a nursing home. I had no idea God had scripted a plan to bring our lives together, or that we were both participants in God's greater plan. Meeting Jane forever changed my life. I stand amazed at how God faithfully led Jane throughout her life, and how God's Sovereign Hand brought our paths together. Meeting Jane was truly a divine appointment meticulously orchestrated by the Hand of God.

As people began to hear about the miraculous story of Jane the response was always the same. "This needs to be told.  Are you going to write a book?" 

I have NO aspirations to be a writer. None. Jane was skilled at writing and the nuances of the English language. She was a former English teacher. An article Jane wrote entitled, George Herbert's "Assurance," was published in the distinguished College Language Association Journal. Jane led writing campaigns. She wrote curriculum, and she also used her skills to edit the work of others. Me? No writing skills whatsoever. But I finally came to understand God didn't need my abilities, what He wanted was my availability—and I was available. Never, even in my wildest imaginations, could I have ever envisioned how God planned to use Jane's life story and our life story to tell HIS story.

Walking by Faith: A True Story of God's Faithfulness

and
 Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead)

As you read the story of how God used Jane to bless our lives, my prayer is that HIS Story will bless your life as well.

This is HIS Story. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

Next Entry: A Blessed Event

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Welcome

     A True Story of God's Faithfulness

The Amazing Story
     The Sovereign Hand of God
Her Name Was Jane
     HIS Story Begins

A Blessed Event

     A God-Ordained Divine Appointment
Our Winding Paths
     God's Scripted Plan
For Such A Time As This
     HIS Greater Purpose
The Journey Home
     One Last Promise
A Legacy Lives On
     HIS Story Continues
A Story to Tell
     It's All About HIM
Walking by Faith
     It's All About the Journey
Following HIS Footpath
     HIS Great Faithfulness
Jane's God-Given Words
     God-Ordained and Holy Spirit Inspired 
The Proof Came—AFTER
     "You Are Free to Go" 
The Path to Salvation
     The Reward is Eternal Life