Dafne Gutierrez (Image Source 12NEWS NBC Phoenix–see link below)
I, like many others, would like to believe in miracles. However, when life gets hard and stays that way, it’s difficult to trust that miracles are real. But I just heard about a woman in Phoenix, Arizona whose vision was restored and even one of her doctors admits that a miracle is the only explanation.
I recently attended a healing service at Saint Timothy’s Catholic Church, in Mesa, AZ and was surprised to see that they were hosting a guest speaker, a woman named Dafne Gutierrez. She spoke at length about losing her vision in November 2015, only to regain it earlier this year, in January 2016, after being prayed for by a local priest and touching a relic of St. Charbel, who was known for his miraculous healings.
St. Charbel Makhlouf (Image Source: http://www.miraclesofthesaints.com/2010/10/incorruptibles-saints-bodies-that-are.html)
Gutierrez spoke movingly about how her only option seemed to be going to a nursing home, because her family was unable to easily care for her. She had young children and was devastated that she would never see their faces again.
Eventually, a relative told her about the local church’s temporary possession of the saint’s relic and insisted that she attend. She did so and, within a few days, her eyesight was not only restored, but her stunned doctor told her that her vision was now 20/20.
After Gutierrez spoke, one of her doctors took the mic and reported that a panel of several objective physicians examined her and her medical records. While the older records clearly stated that she was permanently blind, with no hope of recovery, the physicians discovered that her optical nerves were as good as new. The doctor ended her speech by saying that she had no other explanation than a miracle.
Here are a couple links to news stories about Dafne Guttierez:
- Blind woman claims to be healed after blessing at church (12NEWS NBC Phoenix)
- The healing of a blind woman broadens Saint Charbel’s fame to the United States
Here is a video of another woman speaking about her own miraculous healing, due to St. Charbel. And although I’ve had my own experiences with smaller miracles, these people give me hope that true miraculous healing is, indeed, possible.
And, as a final note, here’s you a miraculous dog.
Lisa Bonnice is an award-winning, best-selling author and editor/manuscript doctor (and former stand-up comedienne—is there anything she can’t do???). Her current passion-project is a series of metaphysical comedy novels. The first in the series is Be Careful What You Witch For!, a modern-day fairy tale about Lola Garnett, a bored housewife and office drone who wakes up with unexpected psychic abilities, and no instruction manual, and Twink, the reluctant, sarcastic faery assigned to assist and educate her. Its sequel, Patterns in the Chaos, is scheduled to be published sometime in 2016.
- Best seller—Fear of Our Father—#1 True Crime
- Two Excellence Awards—MSNBC.com
- eLit Silver Award—The Menhattan Project—Humor
- Includes foreword by Neale Donald Walsch—Shape Shifting
- Featured on Investigation Discovery’s TV program Catch My Killer
Lisa Bonnice
A Hollywood legend says that Fred Astaire’s first screen test led to this critique: “Can’t act. Balding. Can dance a little.” I remember this when I think about my career as a professional writer–it’s all just a matter of the right people seeing your work. And that’s how I feel about being an editor/manuscript doctor for other writers–just because your book might need work, that doesn’t mean it can’t eventually shine!
Let’s assume you’ve just spent weeks (if you participated in 
Asking friends and family is one idea, but you can’t always expect complete honesty from them–they don’t want to hurt your feelings if (when) they have to tell you that your book isn’t yet perfect. Plus, you may be putting them in a tough position. This is a lot of time and effort to invest, as a favor. And, most importantly, they probably don’t know what an editor looks for.
I love to encourage my clients to reach higher and keep getting better at their craft. It takes a lot of guts to actually finish writing a book. Only someone who has accomplished this feat can understand what it means, and how difficult it can be to ask for help, without knowing what kind of cruel critique we may receive in return.
Here's you a blog ... 