Daphene Jones - Our Southern Breeze: We Once Were Lost... But Now Were Found...

Our Southern Breeze

We once were lost... but now were found...

Daphene Jones

With Andrea Taylor, Ph.D.

2011 by Daphene Jones

Email: info@oursouthernbreeze.com

Website: www.OurSouthernBreeze.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherwithout the prior permission of the author.

ISBN-13: 978-0-9830129-7-9

ISBN-10: 0983012970

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011940827

Printed in the United States of America

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Cover Designer & Typesetter: Michelle Kenny, Fort Collins, CO

Consulting Editor: Tim Boswell, Lewisville, TX

Dedication

To my husband, John Angelo, who stands firmly beside me in all things, even patiently listening to me read the manuscript aloud to him. Amazing man, my husband.

For my children, Denise and John Kevin, who showed me such extraordinary forgiveness.

In memory of my sisters, Deborah Hall and Gretchen Molmen.

To Andrea Taylor for her faithfulness and dedication to the book.

Table of Contents

Foreword

by Ron Hall, New York Times bestselling author of

Same Kind of Different As Me,

as a letter to his late wife, Deborah Hall

Dear Debbie,

Daphene asked me recently how you would feel about something she is very excited about. After days of contemplation, I woke up this morning and decided to write you a letter, hoping for an answer to her question. Shes persistent like you. I would expect that of your twin. She always desired your approval. She still does.

Shortly before you departed this earth, Denver (the man in your dream) said he believed you were an angel. I looked up a definition, which said angels deliver messages from God and carry out His desires on earth. I believe Denver was right, so Daphene and I need to hear from you. How is it that it took God using the poorest and most dangerous homeless man in our city to inform me I was married to an angel? Forgive me for not recognizing that sooner. I still marvel at how God used Denver as His messenger during our most desperate times. Do you remember him ever being wrong? I dont, though he was far from perfect.

It seems so silly to ask you if angels read. And Im smiling as I write this with the same childlike faith I had when I would write to Santa expecting toys. Someone said angels just know because God tells them. If thats the case, you wont need to read this letter; but Daphene keeps asking what you would think.

Today is October 25, 2011, our forty-second wedding anniversary. Did you remember? Does an angel ever forget? What a dumb question. Of course you remembered. You always had the memory of an elephant, though you know Ive never spent time with elephants; I take that reference to mean a long and perfect memory.

Id be shocked if by now your Father in heaven hasnt told you about the popularity of Same Kind of Different As Me. It was Denvers idea to write it. He said, Nobody will ever believe this story about you and me and Miss Debbie. So, its your story that millions have read... hold on... what did you say? Yes, of course, Debbie, please forgive me; I meant to say Gods story!

Sometimes I joke about your fifteen minutes of fame that Andy Warhol said everyone would have. Of course, you remember Andy. He is the one who painted that yellow and green self-portrait that hung in our Greenway Road Beaver Cleaver house in 1976. You hated it, and as a highfalutin art dealer, I hate to admit that I did too. Remember, I gave it to Julio, and you wont believe it, but I saw it in Basel, Switzerland last year for sale at $6 million. Since you never cared about money, that news probably doesnt hurt you like it did me. Please excuse this trivial chatter, but you know I chased after money while you chased God.

Unlike me, you never sought to draw attention to yourselfjust to Jesus (proof of your angelic nature). In your heart you wanted your face to disappear so that Gods People could see the face of Christ. Daphene and I talk a lot (are your ears burning?), and we both agree you were content to let us shine and, like the words of a song say, to be the wind beneath our wings. But dont laugh since, unlike your wings that were earned, if you ever saw wings flapping on our backs they would have been purchased at a costume shop.

Do you remember one of our first dates in 1965, when you invited me to dinner at the Old Swiss House to meet Daphene? As we were driving there, you told me she was the pretty twin and always full of surprises. Then over the next thirty years we watched from the sidelines while she surprised us with amazing successes, and even a little tap dancing. And how can I forget all the mornings I saw you on your knees, praying her through her more painful surprises? Well, Honey, in case you havent heard, Daphene is up to big surprises again. Are you sitting down? (Excuse me for not knowing, but do angels ever sit down?) Debbie, this is no joke. Remember Daffney Snort from Sider, yes, the very one you let copy your homework and tests, the one you wrote term papers for? Now, here is the shocker: this same Daphene wrote a booka really good oneabout you. Well, not really just about you; about the two of you, the twins, and how God restored the Ya-Ya sisterhood bond that the devil tried to steal away.

Thats what she keeps calling and calling me about, wanting to know what I think you would think about the book. Dont tell her, but sometimes I screen her calls. Like I said in the beginning, she has desperately wanted your approval her whole life. Nothing has changed.

Her heart is pure in wanting to honor God by telling your storyher storyokay, okay, yes, I mean Gods story about your lives. Oh, there you go with that memory. You remember Im a better talker than listener. Thanks for the gentle reminder.

Anyway, Daphene is worried that you might be upset about her spilling the beans on her twin. Is it crazy to think angels get bothered by anything?

Really, its not our fault (well, maybe it is) that people hunger for more Debbie stories and now Daphene stories. Same Kind of Different As Me whetted appetites. What Difference Do It Make caused an itch that hopefully Our Southern Breeze will scratch.

You wanted people to know Jesus. Our Southern Breeze is about Jesus. All the things you believed (sometimes I doubted and you knew it) are real. The prophecies and words you were sure came from God became reality. Our Southern Breeze confirms them all.

Need I remind you that Daphene and I caused you to spend lots of time on bended knees? (Did I hear you chuckle?) No wonder your heart went AWOL and took resident alien status in an iceberg somewhere near the North Pole.