The Key of Hope Story

By Nancy Nystrom

September 27, 1994, my son Freddy died. No pain can compare to the loss of a child.

On the third weekend after my son's death, my husband took me to the Colorado National Monument. That weekend would begin to change the focus of my life. The evening of the first day, walking in the quiet beauty of the area, I heard a soft voice: "Feed My children." I thought perhaps I was imagining the voice, the words. For the next two days I heard the same soft voice, and the same words, "Feed My children."

The days were difficult. The grief didn't diminish. I prayed and cried. I read my bible seeking peace and comfort, and questioning...why?

One cold winter night, filled with grief and depression, I drove to a parking lot. I parked, turned the key off, bowed my head and cried. I prayed for God to give me comfort and peace--to send a sign so that I would know my prayers were heard and my son was safe with Him.

I sat almost an hour with tears pouring down my face. As I looked up, drops of water began to stream down the windshield. There was no logical reason for rain in 4-degree temperature. A sense of peace and warmth engulfed me, God answered my prayers...tears from Heaven were falling on my windshield.

One day in mid-December, I went to our gallery to work. I was alone most of the day. I cried that morning and most of my thoughts were again of my son. I looked out the front window and saw a young woman striding up the walk. She definitely was coming into the gallery with a purpose. I thought perhaps she was seeking to purchase something.

I greeted her and she greeted me. "How are you doing?" she asked. "Fine," I responded automatically. "How are you really?" she insisted. I told her that my son had died unexpectedly in September, and some days were very difficult. She responded, "I know." Then she said, "The Holy Spirit sent me here today. Do you mind if I pray for you?"

I was a little uncomfortable and glanced out the window to see if anyone was coming up the walk or watching. However, I felt the need for God's comfort, and I thought, perhaps God had sent this person to me. She began to pray and she spoke of things that God was saying to me.

When she finished and we talked briefly, "Dove," as some people call her, put her hand over my heart and began praying again. "God has placed a key in your heart," she said. "I don't know the significance of the key, but He will reveal this to you in time." She stopped and we talked again. Then she knelt and she began to pray over my feet. I thought, "Oh no, not my big size ten feet!" I had boots on and felt my feet must have looked ten feet long. "Your feet will carry a message of HOPE and PEACE," she said. And I thought, "Oh Lord, please don't send me to Africa--I'm too old!"

Several weeks passed and I went on with my life. One afternoon, Dove came back into the gallery. I greeted her and started toward her. As I walked, I saw the key she had around her neck. Without knowing why, I pointed and said, "That's my key!" She looked surprised and held the key tightly, as if to protect it. Feeling foolish for making that comment, I started apologizing. "I was just kidding; I don't know why I said that." She looked at the key, then at me, and said, "Yes, this is your key." I was embarrassed by my boldness, but accepted the key. Then she said, "Now, let me tell you the story of this key...."

"One afternoon while in Salt Lake City," Dove continued, "I had planned to meet with friends at a coffeehouse. When I arrived, I noticed a 'street' man waiting outside. He entered and came to the table next to us. I felt compelled to invite him to join us for a cup of coffee. We talked for a few minutes, and then he pulled a map out of his backpack.

"He drew a circle in the center of the map on the location of my hometown. He proceeded to tell me all the areas I had been, the states I had traveled. He showed me that the path I had traveled was the shape of the cross.

"I asked him how he knew where I had been and what I had been doing. He smiled and said, 'God sees what we do.' It was at this point that I noticed the key he was wearing around his neck. I boldly grabbed it and said, "That's my key!"

"He looked at me and laughed, and took the key from around his neck to give it to me, saying, 'Yes, this is your key.' He explained, 'This is a very special key. There are only two of these keys in the world, and I am giving this one to you. God will reveal the significance of the key to you when it is time to give the key away.'

Dove thanked him and said, "I would like to do something for you. I would like to pray for you." She put her hands over his heart and began to pray 'in the spirit.' Immediately she stepped backwards in awe!

"I saw a beautiful golden heart encircled with a golden band." Then I exclaimed, "I cannot pray for you! I know who you are!" He said nothing, but smiled.

"I knew this was not an ordinary man, but a messenger, or 'angel' from God. I have had the key now for two years and the significance for me was Revelations 3:7-8:"

These things sayeth he that is holy, He that is true.
He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth;
and shutteth, and no man openeth, I know thy works:
Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:
for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.

As Dove finished her story, I examined the key closely. I saw the angel face and wings, the nine ball crown and the seven arches, but nothing was revealed to me. I wore the key for the next few weeks, looking at it, searching for a special meaning and wondering if there was any truth to what I had been told.

Frustrated at my lack of inspiration, I asked a minister what the number nine meant spiritually. He thought for a moment, and replied that the number nine represents God's power. Three times three equals nine, and three plus three plus three equals nine. "That's it! God's power!" I exclaimed. "But what significance does it have for me?"

It seemed that God was revealing answers to me like pieces of a puzzle. I contented myself with this and waited for God to reveal more.

Several weeks later we were discussing some unusual things that had happened in the past months. For some reason, out of context with my conversation, I said, "It's like Jeremiah 33:3!" As I said Jeremiah 33, even before the last three was said out loud I knew. "That's it! That's the significance of the nine: three plus three plus three--the verse:

Call unto me, and I will show thee great and  mighty things,
which thou knowest not.

One evening, a man came into the gallery, saw the key around my neck and asked, "Where did you get this key?"

"From an Angel," I said. "Do you believe in angels?"

He replied, "Yes, of course." He asked if I would be interested in selling the key.

"No," I replied, "This key is not for sale. I was told there are only two keys like this in the world."

He looked at me as if he were looking into my soul, then said, "I may have the other one." As he left, he said, "I'll be back with the other key."

Feeling unnerved about the incident, I told my mother and sister. While trying to describe the man, a shiver went through me as I realized his face was like the cherub's face on the key!

In February, my husband and I drove to Manzanillo, Mexico, where we've had a home for the past 13 years. One Tuesday afternoon in March, while resting and almost asleep, I was jolted with the words: "There needs to be an orphanage here." The thoughts flooded through my mind and I felt compelled to write everything down. I wrote as fast as I could, every detail a new inspiration.

God will provide the land and the architect. Each room was designated, along with the shape of the buildings. I was not to ask for help or financial contributions. God will touch the hearts of many people and they will come forward. Through His power, and our faith, each item and each person will be provided as needed.

When I was finished, I was exhausted and thought, "Where did this come from?" But, I knew. These were not my ideas. This was not my plan or design. I had no doubt it was from God.

Later, a young friend, Felipe, came to visit and I was eager to share this "vision" with him. While I talked, Felipe was staring at me. I thought perhaps he wasn't understanding. He had such a strange look on his face. Then he said, "It is from God."

"Yes, I know," I answered. Then he said, "No, I mean it is an answer from God. Last night twenty-three members of my family prayed for over an hour with our pastor that God would help us find a way to help the children--to build an orphanage. He has answered our prayers!"

I went back to my notes from the days before and looked at the rough drawings I had made for the orphanage. I then realized this drawing was in the shape of the 'key,' with the center courtyard replacing the cherub's face, the walk and entry making the stem. Then I thought, God's angels are doing His work, and this 'key' is somehow the KEY!

I said nothing to anyone else other than my husband, wondering what was next. A few days later I was jolted again from my afternoon rest: "Make the key!" Then I knew, the key that I had been given could be made in silver and gold with proceeds going toward the orphanage. Because there are only two of these 'keys,' I replaced the cherub's face with a tear drop amethyst. (Note, click here to see the key that is being sold to benefit the orphanage. Its price is 960 pesos. You may order a key through the Minturn, Colorado address listed on the opening page of this story, or through Windwood Galleries.)

The story continues. Each day bring another piece of the puzzle, another answer to prayer. As God promised, people have come forward to meet each need.

Often we become so busy, so involved in daily events, that our spirit is not receptive. After my son died, my spirit was open, tender and seeking God's voice. The events of the past months have not removed the paid in my heart, but God has brought comfort and peace in the wonder of His power.

The grief, the prayers, God's message, and this very interesting key changed my life. My life is still changing. Yet, now I can smile and say, "Freddy, because you shared your life with us, God's LOVE will flow out to these children, giving them FAITH and HOPE!"

For additional information regarding the Casa Hogar Los Angelitos children's home and The Children's Foundation go to their web site at   www.childrensfoundationinc.com