God Can Give You the Right Words

In 1975, an Indiana farmer named Frosty Hofmann was diagnosed with severe kidney problems. He was only 35 years old at the time and eventually had to go on dialysis. He and his wife Jane managed his dialysis treatments at their home for the next two and a half years. 

In 1978, Frosty’s brother gave him the gift of life:  a donated kidney. Frosty lived another 25 years and earned the distinction of the longest living kidney transplant patient in the country. He passed away in 2002. 

For the last 15 years of his life, Jane and Frosty traveled around the country, entertaining more than 1400 audiences. Jane was known as “Erma Bombeck on a tractor,” drawing from her 35 years of farming with her husband and raising four children. Frosty concluded their program with a serious message on patriotism and respect for the flag. They were a popular team.

Jane and Frosty had an unwritten rule that they never mentioned his health problems.  “We didn’t want to capitalize on it or make people feel sorry for us,” said Jane. “But just one time I broke that rule and made a little comment about the kidney transplant, certainly not something I planned on doing.”

At the end of the program, a woman made her way to the front of the room. She said, “My grandson is having kidney problems and may have to have a kidney transplant. I need to know all the details about your experience.”

Jane said, “She was desperate for some first-hand information. Her family didn’t want to upset her, so they didn’t let her know what was going on, which only made her fears worse. She was so encouraged to meet a man who had lived a normal life for so many years." 

“It was so evident,” continued Jane, “that God led me to say those few words at exactly the right time so we could be a source of information, comfort, and encouragement to her.”   

Isn’t it amazing how God uses people to speak exactly the words He wants in His perfect timing? 

Scripture confirms this through the Lord’s words to the prophet Jeremiah: 

But the Lord said to me ... “You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.”  Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.”  Jeremiah 1:7, 9 (NIV)

As you go throughout your day, pray that God will put His words into your mouth. You never know when God might use your words in a powerful, life-changing way. 

Excerpt from God in the Midst of Grief, Copyright © 2011 by Diane Pearson, used with permission.