Dodie Osteen - If My Heart Could Talk: A Story of Family, Faith, and Miracles

I may be a little biased, but I truly believe that my mother is the most amazing mother in the world. Her love, kindness, generosity, and strength of faith have inspired not only me but also countless others around the world. I love her dearly and feel honored to call her my mother.

When I was growing up, my mother ran a household with five very active children, a husband, a dog and countless other pets, cooked, cleaned, did endless piles of laundry and stacks of dishes and she somehow made it look easy. Oh, and there was also helping with a fast-growing church that had hundreds of needs to be met. She seemed to never run out of energy, and she had a way of always making things fun along the way.

I dont recall ever leaving for school in the morning without my mother praying over me. And it wasnt just a God bless the children prayer. She would pray a hedge of protection around me and confidently speak Gods favor over my life and that I would excel in every way. I wish that every child going to school today could feel what it means to know that God is going with them to school as I did.

That is just who my mother isa woman of faith whose life and ministry were shaped through adversity and great challenges. As you read this book, youll see exactly what I mean, and I have no doubt that youll be inspired by her message.

The beauty of my mothers life is that she is a woman of great integrity. For me, that means she is the same at home as she is in the church and whenever she is in front of other people. She isnt perfect, and shes never pretended to be. But there has never been a double standard with Mother. Her sincerity has had a tremendous impact on me and my siblings, and Im sure its a significant reason why today all five of us are working in the ministry.

Mother is a constant source of inspiration to us.

I think of how my mother refused to be a victim when, as a young girl, she developed the dreaded disease of polio and had to wear a heavy brace on her leg for many years. She could have easily said, God, this isnt fair. Why did this happen to me? But she saw herself as the victor, and God brought her out of that difficulty.

When my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer back in 1981, she could easily have come home and just sunk into a deep pit of depression. Ill never forget what a shock that news was to our family. But my mother never gave up. She refused to speak words of defeat. She didnt complain about how sick or weak she felt or how hopeless her situation looked. No, she chose to put Gods words in her mind and in her mouth. All during the day, wed hear Mother going through the house speaking aloud, I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord from Psalm 118. Id say, Mother, how are you doing? Shed say, Joel, Im strong in the Lord and the power of His might. As Mother mixed her words with Gods words, something powerful began to happen, and as youll read, she received her amazing healing. Mother remains cancer-free, healed by the power of God and His Word!

Theres so much I could tell you about my mother. I could tell you about how much she loved and adored my father. No matter what Daddy faced through the years, he always knew that she was for him one hundred percent, and to Daddy that was all that really mattered. They were a team, and what they accomplished, they accomplished together. Growing up, I saw that and felt that and it impacted me profoundly.

And when Daddy departed this life and went to Heaven, Mother didnt fade away and go sit at home. In a time of profound loss and sadness, she realized that God still had great things in store for her, and she has soared in a God-sized way. It has been awesome to watch. I know that Daddy is smiling, and so am I.