A GOD MOMENT ON AN AIRPLANE
Milton, here for Kristy:
George B. sat down in his seat on the airplane for his flight out of Jacksonville last Friday the day after Kristy's celebration service. The lady sitting next to him was writing in a new looking journal and these two strangers struck up a brief conversation.
"What were you doing here in Jacksonville," she asked?
"I attended a friend's funeral yesterday," George said. "It was Kristy Dykes' funeral service."
"You attended Kristy's funeral? I didn't know her, but I read Wednesday's feature article about her in the paper and went to her blog and wept as I read it for several hours. She has changed my life.".
The young woman is a golf pro and has faced a serious bout with cancer. Kristy's story gripped her heart and she bought a new journal. She was inspired by Kristy's writings and story to start writing again, and she was writing her first entries as she sat on the plane.
"Kristy was quite a lady," she added.
George told me that he and the stranger talked the rest of their flight.
"This woman's life was changed by Kristy's story," George said. "I didn't know about the article about Kristy and still haven't read it. This was a God moment. It was unbelievable."
***
George told me this story over lunch on Tuesday. I wonder. I just wonder. I really wonder how many lives did Kristy's life touch and change?
God put George next to this lady who had just been impacted by Kristy's story so he could connect with her, and she would learn more about Him.
The woman was right. Kristy was quite a lady.
posted by Kristy Dykes @ 8:00 AM
28 comments
28 Comments:
I agree. I am sure that she will continue to touch lives for years to come. :-)
I know that I am a life that has changed just by reading this blog. The faith that you and Kristy shared is truly remarkable and what I strive for each day.
God bless you...and I am still praying for you!
Missy Bennett
Kettering, Ohio
We so appreciated the service on the net as we were too far away to
be there in person...her inspiration and yours are tremendous, and we'll keep asking
the Lord to keep and strengthen
you daily.
Love in Him,
Bob Creel and Becky
That is an awesome story.
Both Kristy AND you have touched my life. I thank you. In fact, my husband and I rarely do anything for our anniversary due to money (we attempt to be quite frugal). After reading about all of the special times you two had together, I decided that this year we needed to do something for our 14th anniversary. We're going back to a bed and breakfast that we stayed at one night on our honeymoon. We can afford it, and I'm hoping it will be a special time of fun, rest and renewal.
I love thinking of Kristy rejoicing in Heaven with our Lord and Savior.
Hi Milton,
God also had you in mind when he connected George and that woman on the plane. He wanted that news to get back to you so you could have a glimpse of what he is doing with Kristy's life and story. It is like ripples in a pond...spreading out to touch more people than you could imagine.
Today is the Faith Hope and Love one-day conference before the national RWA conference in San Francisco. I know they are going to remember Kristy and honor her there today. More writers will be inspired by Kristy's life, and I am sure God will use that to impact them and their writing ministries.
Blessings from,
Carrie in NJ
Wow! Isn't God so amazing!? What a confirmation from our sweet, loving Lord that even after her death, Kristy is making "new friends" and impacting people all around.
I am grateful for the time I got to meet with you and Kristy when I lived in Tampa back in the 90's and she gave me a copy of one of her books with an inscription inside. I treasure that even more now. I truly wish that I had known her more when she was here. But I feel like I do know her and have been able to, and will continue to, learn from her thru her many writings on her blog. I plan to go back to the beginning before she got sick and read all of it.
You are in my prayers!
Love,
april reece gordon
(Jimmy's daughter)
I believe people will continue to be blessed and saved because of Kristy's blog; even though I had read all her entries, I reread them after I watched the funeral. Still amazes me.
Hope you are doing well, God bless you.
Teresa from AL
*Waves gratefully* I'm a changed life too!!!!!!!
I didn't know of Kristy until her passing. Yet I can honestly say that her story, her courage and her faith have changed my life for the better.
What an amazing woman!
You and Kristy demonstrated the walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We observed faith and joy and sorrow and perseverance, clothed in prayer and hope.
I said it before, but I'll say it again: Kristy taught me as much about dying as she did about living. She taught me how to die. I never knew much about her until cancer struck, but her life and death and passage into the arms of Jesus was a lesson for all of us.
Some individuals leave a legacy of blessing in their brief lives here on planet earth. She was one of them.
Milton,
About two weeks ago, I was cleaning out a cabinet and found a 1971 yearbook from Southeastern Bible College where I attended for a little over a year. I decided that I would “google” a few old friends to see what they were doing. One was Steve Lambert who was in the same class. I found that Steve was a pastor of a church in Clearwater. Also, I found his blog. About a week ago, he told his readers about the passing of Kristy and gave the address of her blog. Since then, I have been reading it daily and have gone back and read her entries from about the time that she began. Her writing is so intriguing that I want to read all of it. I read that she was in the process of finishing a book. However, I believe that she has written in the blog one of the most dynamic books that I have ever read. I know that it has blessed me so much and that it will be the “chair” that will uphold others in times of crisis.
I am a teacher and happen to be designing a “writing plan” for our school for this next year. Kristy’s writing ability is so wonderful that it has inspired me to make this plan the best so that the inner city children that it will guide will not only know how to write, but the importance of how it touches other’s lives. My wish is that they will see that writing is to “entertain, encourage, and to enlighten” to quote Kristy.
I would like to thank you so much for sharing this very difficult time with the world. I wanted to write and let you know that Kristy’s legacy is reaching so many people. I join the many people that have you and your family in their prayers.
Sincerely,
Joe Salmon
She’s touched many lives, directly and indirectly. I know she touched mine, and I never met her; I was just one of many in one of her writing workshops. She touched the golfer’s life. She touched the lives of people who posted on your blog. It’s amazing to me to think of all the other people she touched, the ones you’ll never know about. When George B and the golfer talked, you can be sure there were people around them who heard them and then went home to think or talk about her. There are all the people who have read this blog who never posted, the silent majority of lurkers who read and are touched but don’t know what to say. Of all the people she touched, those who speak to you, who send you cards and letters are only a small part.
Somewhere in this blog Kristy jokes she’s done a million acts of kindness instead of selling a million books. The highest goal for a writer is to touch people’s hearts, and Kristy’s done that better than most NYT best selling authors. I know I’m grateful that through her, God touched mine.
You and your family remain in my prayers.
A friend
WOW what a testimony to our Lord and Saviour. Kristy was a blessing and inspiration to us as well. We read the blog daily and plan to print it. I have all of her published books. I would love for her unfinished books to be published. Following the 2007 Dykes family reunion Kristy sent me several of her books to give away. These books were a blessing to the ones who received them. They to loved Kristy without personally knowing her. I feel that Kristy will continue to touch lives for Jesus for many years to come.
We are continuing to hold you, the grands and the girls up in our prayers.
Love,
Linda (Tommy) Reece
I'm so glad that God is giving you these glimpses of some of the lives touched by Kristy, by you, and by your family. It's probably just the tip of the iceberg. I pray that you will continue to be blessed as God reveals some of the fruits of your work. I know that Kristy was a wonderful lady, but you too Milton deserve acknowledgement as the one who has kept the blog and testimony during this time. I'm sure it has stretched you, but we are greatful. Also to your daughters and other family members who have shared the journey, goes a big Thank You.
Blessings,
Wow! How beautiful! Amazing! That just goes to prove there is much more to tell!
Her story will continue to live.
Love & Prayers to you all.
Milton,
A friend of mine just recently told me about this blog. Over the last several days I have been spending several hours reading through this blog... I have been encouraged in MORE ways than one.
Before I got onto the blog this morning I was sharing with a friend, how through reading this blog, I have been stirred to start writting more of the events of my life and all that God is doing!! And THEN I get on here and read the story about the lady on the plane!
Your story and faith are touching more people than you will know!!
Kristy sounds just like a sweet, sweet friend that of mine that went home to be with the Lord in March due to cancer. I am able to read this blog and relate so well.
Your faith and love for each other has encouraged me so much! I have been sharing Kristy's "marriage tips" with a friend of mine who is about to get engaged!! I could go on, but just wanted to you to know this blog has been a blessing to my life and I am sharing it with others.
I think about your family and pray for them often!
Thank you for serving our Lord so faithfully and for allowing us to get a glimpse into your lives!!
Tracy Strong
Jax, Fl
Milton and Kristy's sweet daughters,
There is a poem I wrote today on Real Teen Faith (http://realteenfaith.com) that I hope will minister to you.
I know that Kristy is, and always will be, your angel.
An AWSA sister to Kristy.
Hi Milton, thank you so much for continuing this blog. You don't know me nor did I ever meet Kristy, but I found her blog through a link from another author.....sorry don't remember who....but it was the same day Kristy passed and I have been so blessed by all she wrote. She has truly touched my life. She is a great example of what we can be and can do when we just allow ourselves to be vessels in God's hands. I have been so encouraged by your relationship that I am determined to work even more on enhancing my own relationship with my husband. I spent all of Sunday night reading a lot of what Kristy wrote and I intend to continue.I also plan to buy some of her books as I do admire her writing style a whole lot.
I pray God continues to strengthen and uphold you through this difficult time.
The first thing I do when I sign on now is to check this blog.
Thank you for sharing through your pain.
blessings
Vickie
My life was touched by Kristy, and you also.
Although I've never left a comment, I've been reading this blog since December. I feel like the young woman on the plane, my life has been FOREVER changed by the testimony of you and your wife to God's goodness and grace. What I could never know as I started to share in your journey was that my life would be impacted greatly with the death of two loved ones and a friend by cancer within six weeks(Jun-Jul). Reading this blog gave me the strength to stand in God's goodness and to trust Him just as you and Kristy have lived.
You and Kristy have touched thousands of lives in an unbelievable way. You are what true Christianity is about. My heart goes out to you and your family. You are positive and strong and loving. Thank you always for sharing with all of us.
Love, Lynne
As a writer, my goal is to encourage, inspire, and change people. That is what Kristy's story did for me, and many others. I can sincerely say that you both have changed my life. Kristy taught me how to live, even in the face of death, while you taught me how to live while facing the death of loved one. And together, you both taught me what it truly means to love a spouse "in sickness and in health."
"Thank you" seems so inadequate, but thank you.
Kristy's blog touched me and healed my heart as my family was going through a very difficult time at the same time yours was. My mother in law passed away June
4th from lung cancer. She had a stroke the day before and the doctor said it was in her brain as well. This blog was amazing to read as were going through our tough times. Thank you. Missy Simpson
That is so awesome! Praise the Lord!
BOY WHAT ENCOURAGING WORDS AND FEELINGS EXSPRESSED TODAY .EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE SO LONELY GOD SURE HAS SENT YOU WONDERFUL SIGNS FROM ABOVE.LOVE AND PRAYERS AVEN TOUCHTON WARREN
Nothing falls by the wayside in God's economy. May He continue to use Kristy's words, your continued writing in this blog, and word of mouth to spread the word: He is Lord over all, and is our Strength when we feel weak. He is our Anchor and our Guide. Praise God for blessings in the midst of pain, for shared sorrow that makes it easier to bear, and for the gift of prayer.
Kristy is alive!
We who have been touched by her journey and yours, will meet her one day. What a day that will be!
One day, in Hevaen, a multitude will approach kristy as they enter the gates. All lives changed by her or her stories. The ripple is far reaching.
She changed mine by giving me the determination to write no matter what. To pick the guantlet from her, the mantle so to speak, and not fritter away the time God's given me - not to waste the stories He's laid on my heart.
As always, I pray for you all daily.
She - and all of you - definitely touched my life. She's unforgettable in so many ways.
Please count me as one touched by Kristy's life. My heartfelt sympathies to you and all of those who knew and loved Kristy. God Bless you all.
Post a Comment
<< Home