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17 April 2016

Premature and Orphaned -- Testimony by Melony Teague

Author Melony Teague

“You killed my daughter!” It was shock that caused my grandmother to scream this from the front seat of the old Studebaker. This was directed at the driver behind the wheel of the car which had collided with the car I was in. Well, let me specify, I was safely encased in my mother’s womb, but I was not due to make an appearance for another three months. My mother sat in the back seat of my grandfather’s car, (I don’t think they even had seat belts at the back in those days) and due to the collision I had a rough start to life. Within days, three months too early, I arrived on the scene, all of two pounds and small enough to fit in a shoe box.
I was told that I stopped breathing a few times before my mother even got to hold me, full of tubes and half blue. Were it not for the vigilance of the doctors and nurses, and the prayers of my family, I might not be the 5 ft. 5 inch woman I am today, with size ten feet!

Maybe it was a rough start, but I will forever be grateful that I arrived three months early. That meant I got to be with my mother three months longer than I otherwise would have. My auburn haired, five foot tall mother, Anne was taken too soon due to a car wreck when I was six months old. 

I lived with my heartbroken six foot tall father, Melville until he too died due to a collision. (South African roads are notorious for being deadly) I ended up being half way between, sharing their names and their character traits.

I came to live with my grandmother who was aged fifty at the time.  I called her ‘mother’ for the rest of my life. She was a women of faith, a survivor and even though she was widowed when I was seven years old and left to raise me on her own, there was no doubt in my mind she overcame all of life’s tragedies and challenges because of her faith. She taught me what real, sacrificial and unconditional love looked like in action. She is the lady who taught me how to pray as a child, through bedtime prayers and grace before meals. She’d always tell me to pray about things when I was worried about something.

Growing up, I have no doubt that it was prayer kept me out of trouble. Neither of my two grandmothers were perfect, no one is, but they were women with a tremendous love for God. Their unwavering faith taught me how to overcome whatever I may face by putting my own faith in my Saviour, Jesus. To me there is nothing more powerful than a grandmother’s prayers and I was blessed with two faith-filled grandmothers. They never stopped praying for me. These ladies taught me that prayer makes a difference. Not only in the situation I am facing or praying for, but in my own heart.

Author Bio:
Melony Teague was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada in 1999. She is a freelance writer who believes everyone has a story to tell, with each story being unique and sometimes wilder than fiction. Melony loves to uncover the good news in society and writes human interest and community pieces. She is an editorial contributor for newspapers and magazines in the Greater Toronto Area, and has contributed numerous articles for the local media over the years. Her guest columns address issues pertaining to life and health, and she loves to inspire and motivate others through her written words. Melony is also a ghostwriter who has worked with diverse subject matter. Melony also handles communications and PR for two non-profit mission organizations in Canada. Her book, As the Ink Flows, Devotions to Inspire Christian Writers & Speakers released April 1, 2016, was written in collaboration with four local authors. Melony lives in Toronto with her husband and their two children.

LINKS TO BOOK:
Authors: Glenda Dekkema, Melony Teague, Carol Ford, Claudia Loopstra and Marguerite Cummings.

Amazon.com:
Thanks for visiting with us, Melony, and sharing your powerful testimony of overcoming!!!



32 comments:

  1. <3 What a seemingly insurmountable start in life. That is surely overcoming with God.

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    1. My thoughts, too, Debbie -- seems insurmountable without God, but with Him, Melony has overcome!!!

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  2. Thank you for sharing your powerful testimony with us on OWG, MELONY! How traumatizing to lose both parents so tragically. Thank the Lord for your godly grandmothers' influence on your life. Bless you!

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    1. Thankfully Diana I was too young to be traumatized, but I do know God was in control all the way, directing my path.

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    2. For some reason, I thought I read 6 yrs. old on there somewhere. Sorry. I lost every one of my grandparents at a very young age, so I wasn't traumatized either. I just never had had any as far as I was concerned. But at times throughout my life I was wistful...wishing I did have some like other kids my age.

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  3. SO glad to have you on Overcoming With God, Melony!! Such an inspiring testimony that fits the name of our blog so perfectly - thank you!!

    I had one of those wonderful praying grandmothers also. One should never underestimate the power of prayer - God performs miracles through prayer. Prayers on my behalf to a loving God of grace, years ago, are what helped make me the person I am today. Prayers today, by and for me, help keep me afloat amidst life's sea of trials and attuned to His voice, guidance and plan for me. What a wonderful, forgiving God Who continually pours out blessings and comfort for the soul!!

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    1. Bonnie, you are such a blessing and encouragement to me! Thank you! Yes, prayer is powerful! And I think grandmother's prayers are extra special ;-)

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  4. Melony, thank you for sharing your amazing testimony with us. I am so delighted that you are my friend and sister in Christ, as are all of the lovely ladies of OWG. Your story is uniquely yours and your love for your grandmother's godly influence in your life shines through in the beautiful person you are today as you use your own God-given talent to the glory of God. j

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  5. Melony , thank you for sharing your heart with us. You truly do have a message to share. Blessings to you and your family.

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  6. Thank you so much for your kind word ladies, I am blessed and I know that it is only by God's grace and through their precious prayers that I am where I am today.

    All of you are such a blessing to me!

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    1. Thank you for sharing your testimony with us, Melony!

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  7. This is a wonderful testimony, Melony. Thank you so much for sharing. Grandmothers have a huge influence over their grandchildren. You were blessed.

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  8. Melony, thank you for sharing your amazing, inspiring testimony with us. What a blessing your two godly grandmother's prayers and legacy are for you.

    Blessings,Tina

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  9. HI Melony, it was inspiring to read your post. You've overcome many challenges in life. What a blessing to have grandmothers who loved you and passed the faith on to you!

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    1. I was thinking that Melony's grandmother was about the same difference as me with my son, when she was raising Melony. I have a 14 year old at home still and I used to tease that I didn't want to wait for a grandchild so I had my own. Very blessed that God gave me this son later in life. I'm sure Melony's grandmother felt blessed to have her there with her.

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  10. Thanks so much for sharing with us, Melody. It truly is a blessing that this Lord directs our paths!

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  11. What a wonderful testimony of how GOD brings about amazing things through difficult situations. Thank you so much for encouraging those of us who are going through hard times now. So glad you are here with us on OWG.

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  12. Amazing testimony. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Melony, Thank you for your testimony. My mother died a month before I was six. The first time I read Psalm 139, I knew I wasn't alone and God had been with me all of the time. I am thankful for His guidance and love. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House xx

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    1. Isn't it wonderful to know our God is so close to us?

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  14. Thank you so much, Melony, for sharing your testimony here on OWG for everyone! God certainly had plans for you!! Praise God for your faithful grandmothers. What a blessing for you!

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  15. Wow, what an amazing story, Melony! Thanks for sharing your roots of faith. Your grandmothers sound like amazing women.

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  17. Oh my. That is quite a story. Both parents lost to a vehicle accident and you were born prematurely because of an accident? So very very sorry. Your heart for the Lord is a wonderful testimony to your grandparents and what a wonderful foundation they laid for you in your young life. Good for you for carrying the torch.

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    1. Thank you Glynis. Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. :-)

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