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READ ABOUT MORE AMAZING GODWINKS IN THESE BOOKS:
When God Winks
God Winks on Love
Godwink Stories
Godwinks and Divine Alignment
The Godwink Ef fect
The 40 Day Prayer Challenge
INTRODUCTION
I magine that you have just opened the door to this book. And you are awaiting wondrous gifts that will enrich your life!
With the joy you once felt as a child, arising with wide-eyed delight on Christmas morning, every Godwink story on the following pages is a beautifully wrapped gift, just for you.
Think of it. Out of seven billion people on the planet, a Godwink is a direct, person-to-person message of hope and encouragement.
We believe that as the following true-life stories unfold they will trigger memories of your own Godwinks, extraordinary things that have happened to you; things you perhaps wondered about and maybe even dismissed as too unbelievable to believe.
Now you can believe them. This book proves that Godwinks happen to everyone. They are universalcrossing a tiny bit of faith the size of a mustard seed is all you need to begin developing your vision to see your Godwinks. And once you see them, the more youll see them, all around you, every day.
As you are drawn into the lives of the people who lived the thirty amazing stories in this book, youll imagine youre alongside them as their Godwinks are revealed, as if you were in the middle of a minimovie with a surprise ending.
Youll sense youre with Sandy, a beleaguered pre- Christmas mother, rushing through a supermarket, as she realizes the joy of an incredible gift of kindness. Youll be in a childrens hospital at Christmas with the actress Roma Downey as she opens her gift of purposeher job for God. Youll take a romantic journey with Brooke, whos uncertain that shell ever find Prince Charming, and youll be next to her as she discovers the gift of reassurance thats awaiting her, like a scene from Its a Wonderful Life .
Looking on expectantly and lovingly is the Giver of every good gift; your Creator, who personally wrapped your presents and put them under the tree. Hes saying, Go ahead... open them! They may change your life forever!
SQuire and Louise
The new word, now appearing in dictionaries:
Note: Most of the stories in this book are brand-new. A few are classics, previously published, now rewritten and updated. The latter are marked with this symbol:
1
Sandy: Godwinks and Giftwinks
L ike so many women on Christmas Eve, Sandy Locke had a lot to get done. She moves like a Road Runner cartoon, in a figurative cloud of dust, zooming from store to store beep beep checking and rechecking her lists beep beep watching the clock like a coach in the final seconds of a game.
Sandy and Rick Lockes daughter had invited them for Christmas Eve, with a request for Sandy to bring one of her special dishes: her delicious gluten-free Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad. Two of the family members were gluten intolerant.
Rapidly, Sandy and Rick pushed their cart through the supermarket, grabbing things they neededand too many more they didnttrying to get to the checkout as fast as possible.
Darn. The store didnt carry the one item Sandy absolutely had to have for her special salad: gluten-free pretzels.
She looked at Rick. Why dont I drop you at home? You put away the groceries, and Ill run over to Albertsons to see if they have em.
Rick nodded.
Tell you what, she continued as an afterthought, while Im checking out, why dont you bring the car up. Ill meet you out front.
Rick again nodded and disappeared.
Sandy lunged her cart forward, then immediately was slowed. Blocking the aisle was an older couple. Sandy looked to see if she could squeeze by. No. Not possible. They were moving very deliberately, both holding on to the cart to steady themselves.
Other customers began to display annoyance, rolling their eyes, heaving sighs. But as Sandy looked at them, something caught a piece of her heart, a tenderness that was evident between the two of them.
When the opportunity arose, she circled into another aisle, found an available checkout, and soon saw Rick waiting in their car out front.
A short while later, they pulled into their driveway. As Rick gathered up the groceries, Sandy slid into the drivers seat and said, Ill try not to be too long.
At Albertsons, Sandy didnt bother with a cart or basket but headed directly to the gluten-free area. Thank goodness, there they are! she thought as she grabbed what she needed.
As she headed for the shortest checkout line, she saw a few other things and, on impulse, piled them onto her now overloaded arms.
The line wasnt moving; then she saw why.
Two places ahead in the line was the older couple she had seen from the other store. They were methodically counting out their money to pay the bill. Sandy watched as the lady took out what appeared to be a gift stamp book, looking at the cashier with anticipation.
The customer standing between Sandy and the older couple was now making smacking sounds and groans.
Sandy looked above the register. A sign described an Albertsons holiday promotion. For every ten-dollar purchase you would receive a single stamp toward gift items, silverware, etc.
The cashier handed the older woman her stamps, and, as her husband watched, she began to paste them into her book.
The cashier, sensing the growing anxiety of the next customer, asked the older couple if they would mind stepping to the side to finish their task.
Sandys eyes followed as the sweet couple shuffled off a short distance and stopped to glue their stamps into the book. She saw simultaneous disappointment descend upon their faces. Their already slumped shoulders seemed to sag further. They must have been saving up for something they needed and didnt have enough stamps.
The older man put his arm on his wifes shoulders, comforting her.
Sandys arms were getting weary with all the items she was carrying. And now the impatient person ahead of her was challenging the price of something. A courtesy clerk was called to go check a price.
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