DARLENE WAS READY

Darlene lived across the street from us in Newhall, California, the second youngest of a large family. When she was four years old she was diagnosed with leukemia. She had to have chemotherapy every week, but her parents never left her in the hospital. Her mother Lily always held her lovingly when she was having treatments and blood tests, and this gave Darlene strength to bear the pain without crying.

Her parents had asked Jesus into their hearts and He was very real to them. They loved all their children very much. Darlene heard them talking about Jesus every day.

Darlene lost her hair because of the chemotherapy treatments. She was too young to attend kindergarten, but she longed to go. She was excited when she was finally allowed to attend for a few days. Some of the children teased her because she was bald, but she didn’t let it bother her.

One day when she was walking with her older sister Teresa, some children who saw her baldness and puffiness from the cancer treatments started to poke fun at her. Her sister was very upset but Darlene said, "Don’t be upset, Teresa. If everyone read the Bible like Momma does, people wouldn’t be like that."

Little Darlene was meek and patient with people, very Christlike. Jesus is called the Lamb of God because He was meek even when they crucified Him.

Another time Darlene asked her mother if it was okay for her to go home to heaven. Lily was having a hard time letting go of her precious child, but she assured Darlene she was free to leave at any time.

So Darlene told her mom, "Jesus comes to me every night, and He kisses me and shows me His angels." This child was aware of spiritual things and very conscious of God’s presence in her life.

One day Lily brought Darlene across the street to see me. She said, "Darlene wants you to pray that she will be able to go home soon to be with Jesus." Since I was a missionary, they trusted me to talk to Jesus about this situation. I prayed for little Darlene that day with tears, and every time I saw this precious child my heart was deeply touched.

Darlene’s condition deteriorated, but she refused to be hospitalized. She wanted to be home with her brothers and sisters until the very moment when she left this earth. On her last night she was suffering, but she asked her parents to sing the Christian songs she loved. The whole family was awake most of that night, singing and listening to recordings of Christian music with Darlene. Heaven was very real to them.

Just before dawn, Darlene left her body to be with the Lord Jesus forever. She wasn’t quite six years old. As I was getting into my car the next morning to drive to work, one of the Claffey children ran across the street to tell me that Darlene had gone to be with Jesus.

This was a very emotional time for me. As I drove to the hospital where I worked, tears ran down my face. I could visualize Darlene being welcomed into God’s presence by Jesus Himself with crowds of children around him. They were singing and smiling, so happy to have Darlene with them. At last she was with her loving Savior, the Good Shepherd of all believers.

Jesus is the center of everything that goes on in heaven. Darlene may have thought about her parents who were still on earth, but she knew they were safe in Jesus and would someday come to be with her.

You, too, can be God’s precious child if you will receive Jesus into your heart, confessing your sins and believing that only Jesus can save you. No church can save anyone. Little Darlene knew that Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Have you asked Jesus to come into your life to be your Lord and Savior? Tell your friends about Jesus so they will be ready, too.