The title Grace chose for this yearbook article was Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” While Grace walked through the valley, she was conscious of the Lord’s presence as He promised. Shortly after she wrote this article, on October 16, 2004, the doctor told Grace that there was nothing more they could do for her medically except to try to manage her severe pain. The day after, Grace wrote this prayer in her personal diary:

Dear Lord Jesus,
I know everything is in your hands. It has always been. There is nothing left that human doctors can do. However, you are the great physician. I do not know what your plan is; but I know you! Whatever you do is the best for me. You have promised in your Word, all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. I know you have a purpose for my illness. I just do not know what the purpose is. Of course, I want to get better; but you may have other plans. I accept whatever you do. I thank you so much for everything you have done for me. You may want me to be with you any day soon. I love you, Lord. I thank you for dying on the cross for me and for saving me from my sins. I really want to write a hymn –please help me. I also want to read the Bible and pray a lot. I know you can heal me, but your will be done. Thank you for giving me peace, I really need peace. I know you can take away my pain. Please do, Lord! But again your will be done. You say in your own Word the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 10:13 – ‘There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it

.Lord, you have helped, comforted, calmed, and cheered me up. You have brought me through a whole year and about three months. Now, please let me be able to see the yearbook when it comes. I am really excited—two weeks please….”

These were Grace’s last words in her diary. God granted her prayer and gave her exactly two weeks. He also granted her simple request to see the yearbook. No one knew but the Lord. Two weeks later, on November 1, 2004—just before her fifteenth birthday—Grace went to be with her beloved Redeemer. Grace did not trust her good works, her religion, or even her faith. She did not practice nor master positive thinking, but rather she trusted the Lord Jesus Christ. Just prior to her illness, Grace asked Him to come into her heart to save her and He did. The Lord was always faithful to her as He promised in His Word, even in the darkest hours, and lowest valleys. He will do the same for you if you will accept Him. Today, if you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart. Instead, listen to His words of life:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.1 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked to lasciviousness [lustfulness], lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.2And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment3 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.4

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.5But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.6Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.7And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.