God Is The Best Author

Olivia Hudson

I love to write but there are few times in my life that I get to witness, experience, or be part of a true miracle that is difficult to write about. I struggle because it’s hard to convey in those moments something concise and yet powerful enough to express what my eyes have witnessed. I decided to try, not for my glory, but because to not try would be to miss the opportunity I have to build others' faith and remind us that even though we can’t always see it, God IS working.

On September 25, 2022, I witnessed what a sister in Christ referred to as a parallel picture of Mark 2:1-5. My dad, José Juan Shepherd James, was lowered to be baptized into Christ at 78 years old.

Journey To Forgiveness

I became a disciple on May 26, 1996.  During my Bible studies it became clear that I needed to forgive my father. It wasn’t something they said, rather God spoke to my heart through His Word.

It wasn’t easy to forgive my dad, but my heart was cut (Hebrews 4:12). The scriptures were clear - God can’t forgive me if I don’t forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15). I chose to forgive intellectually by submitting to God’s Word, but I also prayed for emotional surrender, which came as I worked on little Olivia. I share my journey in my book, “Caring for the Child Within: My journey through emotional healing”. (NOTE: Insert picture of Olivia’s book)

As I worked on the judgment, anger and bitterness I had towards my dad, something transformed in me. I began to see him as the dad God gave me to love instead of the one I wished I had. I stopped comparing and embraced who God chose to be my father. The good and the bad.

Choosing To Love Like Christ

My childhood experience led me to wanting and desiring something more. I chose to love like Christ (Romans 5:8) and love my dad where he was, not where I wanted him to be. Miraculously, I found myself falling in love with my dad after much prayer and surrender. Jesus drove out of me the negative feelings that prevented me from loving my dad fully.

For 26 years I have been a disciple, and I had believed that the miracle in my story with my dad ended the day I accepted to love him fully. See, my dad for my whole life battled a serious mental disorder that caused him to be violent to others. He was physically and emotionally abusive. However, God showed me after 26 years that He was not done writing my dad's story.

Miracle of Prayer

In March 2022, I flew to Panamá from Virginia where I currently live with my sister, to say what we thought was our goodbye forever to Dad. He was in ICU and the doctors were not hopeful. I was at peace with letting my dad go. After the years I grieved not having an emotionally engaged father, I was sad because I knew I would miss him, with the chaos and all that accompanied him. 

My week trip turned into two weeks because my dad made progress. It was truly a miracle. For 15 days straight I got to see my dad. Every day before I left the visit, I prayed the Lord’s Prayer with him. One day as I was leaving, he reminded me that I forgot to pray. Every time we talk now, we pray together.

My dad, no matter what, understood that there is a God. He could quote people in the Bible so well. As he recovered, he said that he truly wished to be with Jesus one day. His character of unkindness and his lack of respect for others had changed because he had a near-death experience.

One day in my talks with him before I left to go back home to VA, I asked him a question: Dad, if you could have one wish guaranteed to happen what would it be? I was amazed at his response: “Estar con Jesús, estar con Jesús es lo mejor.” (To be with Jesus, to be with Jesus is the best). When I returned from that visit with my dad, the next day I went on a prayer walk and wept. See, I really hoped my dad would say something I that could do, after all I didn’t know how long my dad would live. He was better, but not totally out of the woods.

But this request was not one I had the power to grant. So, I decided to pray. Not for me, but for him as I would pray for anyone who has a desire that will please God and glorify Him.

Crying Out To God

On April 22, 2022, I went on a prayer walk and cried like a baby. I prayed: “God, you are the God of the impossible. I am even hesitant to pray about this because I don’t want to be disappointed but I am not praying for me, I pray for my dad. Please bless the desire of his heart.” I prayed those words, or something close to them and didn’t pray about it anymore after that. However, after I prayed, I heard God loud and clear that I needed to do my part. I contacted the evangelist to find someone to study with my dad.  Ricardo Gordon was willing.

On May 19, I introduced Ricardo to my dad and left to go back home to Virginia. On September 25, I heard my dad, who is 78 years old, proclaim Jesus is Lord in the presence of many witnesses. Ricardo studied with my dad three times a week for 30 minutes, consistently, for about five months. That was the time allotted by the residential facility my dad resides in. My dad has changed drastically. He is not perfect, but he is a man quick to repent and imitate Jesus.

Trust The Power of God’s Word

When I first introduced Ricardo to my dad, I felt the need to prepare him for what he was walking into. I wanted him to know that my dad curses, is unkind, etc. I was very insecure and concerned about what Ricardo would think. Ricardo lovingly said: “Olivia, no te preocupes de eso, hay que aceptar a las personas dónde están y confiar que la Palabra de Dios tiene el poder.” (Olivia don’t worry about that, we need to accept people where they are at and trust the power of God’s Word). My heart was very challenged and touched.

A sister in Christ, when she saw the video of the baptism said she was in tears, as it reminded her of how many parallels there were to the paralyzed man in the Bible. Mark 2:5 says: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

When I read this story in the Bible, I tend to focus on how Jesus healed the paralyzed man, how his friends helped lower him, and for the first time, the part where Jesus highlighted the faith of the men who lowered him and made a point to say that it was their faith that brought about healing.  I thought of Ricardo. He simply put his trust in God and the power of Word and brought my dad before Jesus to heal him.

My dad’s mind is so transformed. Several times he says: “Olivia, I never thought it was possible I could change, but God changed me at 78 years old. I am not the same man. I pray to never go back to where I was. I am happy and I am content.”

My dad himself didn’t believe it. I stopped believing. God blessed the faith of a brother who saw a man that needed to be healed and had the same hope for him as he does for every person who has not made peace with God.

I believe that God spared my dad's life in March, and in those moments when we thought he was going to die. God could have taken his physical body, but He didn't. He gave him the opportunity to find healing and forgiveness and make peace with Him with his spiritual body.

I fall short of words to describe watching my husband baptize my dad. In my dad's words: “Cory inspires me to be the man I want to be.” My dad connects with my husband occasionally, but he has seen his faithfulness to me and God for 30 years. I never imagined the impact my husband was having on my dad as a man who faithfully chooses Jesus.

I am a writer, but here is the thing I love - when God reminds me that ultimately, He writes the best stories in my life.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV).

Facebook Link to ICOC in Panama 

Video of my dad's baptism

Link to my book- Caring For the Child Within: My Journey of Emotional Healing

Link to my website