During the years of 1963 and 1965 I had the privilege of having two beautiful children, both girls.  It was a joy to watch them grow.  Both had completely different ideas of what they wanted to do and how to do them even in marriage; but, in Deborah’s case her life was cut short   At that time she had two young children that she simply adored and when she found out that she had cancer, she worried more about them than herself.  The doctor told her that she had malignant peripheral nerve tumors.  They are a rare type of cancer that arise from the soft tissue that surrounds nerves.  They are a type of Sarcoma. 

Tommy and I went to Ohio to be with her during this time to try to comfort her and her family.  We prayed for healing but the Lord knew what was the best thing for her and he let her go to sleep to wait for him until the resurrection day.  

It is so hard to lose a child and the grieving process is long and continuous, and we know the devil is working hard. 

One night I could not sleep, so I got up and went into the kitchen to get some water to drink, and on the way back down the hall I heard the devil say “turn around and you will see Deborah”.   He knows our weak spots and knew how much I missed her.   Chills went through my body because I knew I was on dangerous ground and I knew the voice was not coming from God.  My mother taught us children that the Bible states that when you die you know not anything and our church teaches that spiritualism will arise in the later days, so I just kept on walking and went back to bed with a prayer on my lips.

Spirit of Prophecy states “Many will be confronted by the spirits of devils personating beloved relatives or friends and declaring the most dangerous heresies.  These visitants will appeal to our tenderest sympathies and will work miracles to sustain their pretentions.  We must be prepared to withstand them with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything and that they who thus appear are the spirits of devils.”  Great Controversy 560.1

The Lord has scripture in the Bible telling us how the devil will tempt us and we need to be ready at all times to refute him. 

1 Peter 5:8  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,  as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”   and Matt 26:41  “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit  indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”   
     —Submitted by Caroline Heartwell


Though grief has been a heavy burden, I have found strength in God’s Word. The enemy may try to exploit our sorrow with deception, but the Bible reminds us that death is a sleep until the resurrection. My comfort rests in knowing that Deborah is safe in the Lord’s keeping, awaiting the day when Christ will call His children to rise. Until then, I will stand firm and hold fast to His promises and encourage others to trust in His truth, for it is our shield against the adversary’s lies.

The Bible warns us against deceptions, The below video can help strengthen your faith and prepare you to stand firm in God’s truth.