Read A Treasury of Miracles for Teens Online
Authors: Karen Kingsbury
A Treasury of Miracles for Teens
Copyright © 2003 by Karen Kingsbury.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including
information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may
quote brief passages in a review.
Hachette Book Group
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First eBook Edition: March 2010
ISBN: 978-0-446-55474-9
Donald, my prince charming. You are my dream come true, the one I lean on and look to. I love you always and forever. Also
to Kelsey, Tyler, Austin, EJ, Sean, and Joshua … the lyrics of my song. And to God Almighty, the greatest Author of all, who
has—for now—blessed me with these.
I
t’s easy to look at life and wonder what it’s all about. Especially if you’re just starting the journey into adulthood. You’ve
watched terrorists attack the United States, and stood by in horror while the tragedy at Columbine High School captured the
nation’s attention. It would be easy to feel nervous about everything from the classmate sitting beside you in Algebra to
our national security. In fact, you could watch TV or read the newspaper and get discouraged, start thinking that God isn’t
around anymore. Or that somehow he doesn’t care.
That’s where this book comes in.
Over the last few years I’ve heard from hundreds of teens like you—guys and girls who’ve read my novels and decided to share
their amazing stories with me. Some of them involve mysterious people who just might’ve been angels. Other stories show God’s
miraculous hand at work in a dozen other ways.
But the point is God does care about you. He
knows you’re walking through the minefield of adolescence and He has a message for you: you’re not alone. If you’re the lonely
girl sitting by yourself at lunchtime, God’s beside you. The popular jock with a public smile and a private fear? He’s waiting
for you to trust him. If you’re lonely, afraid, or even a little concerned about tomorrow, God wants you to rest easy. He
has a plan for each of you, for every one of your todays and tomorrows.
And not just any old plan. A good plan, a great plan.
Okay, it’s time to get started. Find a quiet place in your room or call up a friend you can read aloud with, and take a deep
breath. The book you’re holding is a treasure chest, and the stories within it are a series of precious jewels. Each written
and shared with you here to remind you of the greatest truth of all.
God loves you.
Now that you understand a little more about the stories you’ll be reading, buckle your seatbelts and get ready to do some
treasure-hunting. The experience might just change your life forever.
Contents
When Life Changed in an Instant
A Charlie Brown Christmas Miracle
A TREASURY OF MIRACLES FOR TEEMS
F
or Tanner Woods, that summer should have been the best ever. He was fifteen, tall and handsome, a standout football player
at Thousand Oaks High School in Southern California. He was also an excellent student. Come fall, Tanner would have a dozen
activities pulling at him. But it was July, and Tanner and his family were spending a month on the beach in the south of France.
The days were long and carefree. In fact, there were no signs that something strange and miraculous was about to happen.
Something that would change Tanner’s life forever.
Tanner’s sister, Erin, was two years younger than him, but the two had always been buddies. Most days that summer, Tanner
and Erin would play Frisbee on the beach and splash in the waves while their parents played tennis at the club or swam at
the pool, some two hundred yards away. The Woods
family had spent lots of time at the beach—both near their California home and on vacation. But still their parents urged
them to be careful.
“Watch for the riptides,” Tanner’s mother warned them each morning. “You kids are used to the ocean, but keep an eye on each
other.”
Tanner and Erin loved the freedom of staying at the beach by themselves all day. By midsummer they had each made several new
friends along the shore. One afternoon just after lunchtime, a woman and two young blond girls walked down the beach and set
up not far from where Tanner and Erin had their towels. Tanner and Erin could tell by the family’s fair coloring that they
were from one of those Scandinavian countries like Sweden or Norway.
“Must be new,” Tanner whispered to his sister. Erin nodded. Neither of them had seen the family before. The teens watched
as the two little girls— who looked about seven and four years old— climbed into a rubber raft and set out into the water.
“Wonder if they know about the riptides?” Erin asked.
Tanner narrowed his eyes, his heartbeat twice as fast as before. For the most part, the people playing in the surf had cleared
out by then. Tanner studied the waves and immediately understood why. The riptides were back! They came up every day at about
this time, but that afternoon they were stronger than Tanner had ever seen them.
He glanced back at the rubber boat and his
breath caught in his throat. The small craft was being sucked out to sea and the young girls were huddled at one end, their
faces frantic.
“Look!” He nudged Erin and pointed at the little boat. “Those girls are gonna drown.” He jumped up and raced toward the woman
who had brought the young girls.
“Tanner!” Erin shouted after him. “Be careful.”
But Tanner barely heard his sister’s warning. Fear welled up within him and he was breathless when he reached the woman. “Ma’am
… your girls!” He sucked in a quick breath. “They’re in trouble!” He gestured out to the two little girls. Both were screaming,
their voices lost on the pounding surf. Their small boat was twice as far out to sea as it had been before.
The woman was on her feet in an instant, panic written across her face. “Girls!” she screamed. “Someone, help!” Hysteria filled
her voice and she shot a desperate look at Tanner. “I can’t swim!”
Across the beach, Erin was watching the drama unfold. Now she ran across the hot sand and caught up with Tanner just as he
bolted for the water. “Tanner! “ Her voice was a shriek. “You can’t do this. You’ll be killed!”
“I have to, Erin. Those girls don’t have a chance.” Tanner did not hesitate another moment. But as he sprinted for the shore,
he turned back one last time. “Pray for me, Erin. Please pray.”
“No, Tanner … don’t go!”
In all her life, Erin had never been so scared. There were no adults around, no time to find her parents. By then a small
crowd had gathered near the two girls’ mother, comforting her, praying with her. Erin wanted to scream.
What about my brother! What if he dies trying to save those girls!
At that instant, Tanner ran through the surf and dove into the waves. In a matter of seconds he was caught in the same riptide
as the children, his arms cutting powerful strokes into the water as he struggled to reach their rubber boat.
“Tanner!” Erin started to sob. “Don’t drown, Tanner. Please!” Panic choked her and she grabbed fistfuls of her hair. Her brother
would never make it out alive and all she could do was watch.
Then she remembered Tanner’s final words.
Pray for me y Erin. Please pray.
Still terrified, Erin fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands. “Please, God … make a miracle happen for my
brother and those girls. Please …”
Meanwhile, some fifty yards offshore, Tanner was breathless at the strength of the current. He fought back the panic that
splashed his face with every wave.
Okay y God. I need your help here.
Pausing a few precious seconds, Tanner yanked off his shirt, kicked off his sandals, and kept swimming. Never had the water
tugged so desperately at his body. His heart raced and every few seconds he swallowed another mouthful of salt water.
“Girls!” He struggled for a breath of air. “I’m coming!” The water was choppy and only by straining with all his might could
he see the rubber boat ahead of him. He fought toward the little craft, one stroke after another. The current was taking him
straight for them. He could hear their little-girl screams, and he allowed them to drive him forward. Stroke after stroke.
Don’t let me drown, God. Those girls need
me.
When he was ten feet away he silently thanked God. He was going to reach them! That was the good news. The bad news was something
that made Tanner’s heart race within him. His limbs were beginning to feel numb. He knew the reason why. He was running out
of energy.
But somehow he held out. One minute led to two and finally Tanner was at their side. He clutched the edge of the boat and
peered inside at the terrified, screaming children. “Girls. It’s okay. We’re going to be all right.”
Tanner wasn’t sure if the young Scandinavian girls would speak English, but they did. “Help us! Please!” The older of the
two girls scrambled toward him, leaning the rubber boat too far to the side. Both girls screamed and grabbed the sides of
the boat as water began pouring in. Tanner worked his way to the other side, desperate for a solution. Every second the riptide
was pulling the boat farther out to sea.
“Shh,” Tanner told the girls. “Stop crying and stay still. We’re going to be all right.”
The girls’ screams quieted to soft, frightened whimpers.
There was only one way they would make it back to shore.
I’ve gotta’ swim, God. Give me the strength. Give me a miracle.
Tanner took a deep breath and stared at the cluster of people on the shoreline. Somewhere Erin was watching him, praying
for him. He summoned the last of his strength, drew another breath, and with one hand still clutching the small boat, he began
swimming toward shore.
He was only a hundred yards from the beach, but the riptide was relentless. For three minutes he kicked and pushed against
the current, but his efforts only worked to keep the boat in place. The older girl saw his difficulty and began to cry aloud
once more.
“We’re going to drown!” she screamed.
“No we aren’t!” Tanner craned his neck and stared at the child. His tone was calm, despite the panic welling within him. “Sit
down next to your sister and be quiet.” As the girl grew quiet once more, Tanner was able to focus all his attention on reaching
the shore.
Minutes passed and yet it seemed they had barely moved five yards closer to shore. Tanner’s legs were cramping, his energy
drained. He thought about football and the training drills he’d been through with the team the previous summer.
Tough it out, Tanner. Come on, you can do it!
He could almost hear his coach talking to him over the waves. Or maybe it wasn’t his coach.
God? Is that you? Help me! I can’t do this!
You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength, Tanner.. Don’t give up.
This time Tanner was sure it wasn’t his coach. He’d heard his favorite Bible verse. It was the same Bible verse that hung
on the wall in his room. He’d always said he could do anything with God’s help.
Yes, that was it, wasn’t it? Tanner kicked furiously, a new strength surging through him. He glanced over his shoulder and
saw the two girls, their white-blond hair matted to their faces, their pale blue eyes wide with fright. He would not give
up. If they drowned, then he would, too.
Tanner lunged forward with each stroke of his free hand and yanked the raft between strokes. The current was so strong he
felt as if he were pulling the raft straight up a hill. Still he continued.
Back on the beach, Erin was still on her knees, still praying constantly for her brother. The crowd around the girls’ mother
was growing and everyone had left the water except for Tanner and the children.
Come on, God. Get him back to shore. Please!
Erin studied her brother, her body paralyzed by fear. Tanner was a brilliant swimmer. If it was taking him this long to pull
the girls back to shore, something was terribly wrong. Erin had heard of currents that literally pulled people underwater
to their deaths. She prayed that this was not the case as she kept her eyes riveted on her older brother.
There were no rescue boats, and although Erin had heard someone call for the local lifeguards, this was a private beach and
none had arrived yet. In addition, among the few people who’d gathered, no one looked able to carry off a rescue. No one but
Tanner.