She Shot Her Husband to Death

The story of Helen Naslund, an Alberta Woman who killed her husband, dumped him in the pond with the help of one of her sons, and declared him missing, went viral nationally and internationally.

I did not know much about Helen nor met her before until very recently. Years back, one of the women we prayed together as a group read about Helen and her imprisonment. I believe God must have put a heavy burden on her heart for Helen. Faye wanted us to intercede for Helen. So, we started.

As the burden grew stronger, she contacted Helen in the prison by mail, and surprisingly, she replied. We were so happy. As Faye introduced God to Helen, she was slapped with some resistance, so she decided to keep it a friendship interaction while we continued in prayers for Her. How the miracle of mercy and freedom will happen to Helen, I honestly could not think that through.

Helen committed a grievous crime, and only God can help her survive it. As we kept praying for Helen and following up with the letters, many people were moved by Helen’s situation and started contacting her as well.

Helen had suffered an abusive relationship for 27 years. As she worked in the equipment rental company, she would come back home to work on their family farm and still perform the role of a mother and a wife. Her husband is known to be a drunkard who parades Helen and his sons in their home with a gun regularly.

According to CBC News and other reporters, Helen had attempted to run away several times but for her children, their farm, which she had worked so hard on, and her severe depression. She had been beaten up for attempting to run away also. Helen and her children dare not tell the cops any of these, or they would face the consequences.

One day, Helen had come back from her job where she was working as a manager to join the family on the farm, being harvest time. While she was driving the hay cutter tractor that evening, the tractor broke down. Her husband became inflamed and started throwing all kinds of wrenches at her. He thereafter attempted repairing the tractor but was not successful.

Helen eventually went home to prepare dinner for the family and set the table for her husband and the children. Her husband Miles came in furious about the broken-down tractor. He told Helen that she would dearly pay for the tractor she broke. As he sat on the table, his anger erupted, and he “violently cleared the fully set dinner table onto the floor, indicating the meal was not fit for a dog”, as reported in the court document. It was reported that he threw all kinds of cutleries, plates, etc violently at Helen. That night, when Miles had fallen asleep, heavily drunk,  Helen took his gun and shut him twice at the back of his head. With the help of her son, she buried him and his car in their farm and declared him missing. They kept this for 6 years until one of the sons leaked the secret. Thus the Helen imprisonment.

As reported by CBC News, Neil, one of Helen’s Sons who was there that evening told them of her mother’s state that moment: “I saw the tears rolling down her face,” all the broken glasses, the food, and the mess to clean up. He was yelling and screaming, saying he would kill all of us. He said we were all useless, and we didn’t deserve to eat.”.

A few weeks ago, Helen was released from prison, and a welcome-home potluck was arranged for her. Four of us from the intercessory group drove to the farm location to be part of the gathering. The day was bright and gracious, and the signature of God revealed in the natures around us as we drove through the several hectares of farmlands reflected the love and compassion of God.

When we eventually arrived at the location, our first search was Helen. It was great to meet different people who had shared her story one way or the other. One senator even flew in from Ottawa. We met one of the journalists that put Helen’s story out there also, Jana Pruden.There was no way we could exclude God in such a gathering. He is a merciful, compassionate God. He would forgive the vilest offender who truly repents and believes. Many times, we face deep hardship because we put God away too long. However, God is not willing that any should perish but that we should all come to repentance and enjoy the benefits he has put aside for us. These we briefly shared.

It was also great that I could personally meet Helen. In that little corner, some deep truths were communicated as we chatted in a little farm room. People would eventually go to their homes after the gathering, but Helen would have to continue her new life. It’s one thing to be free from a physical prison, while it’s another thing to be truly free from other forms of imprisonment. Satan has not ceased being an accuser of people, and only God can truly and fully forgive. He is the one who is capable of mending all forms of broken edges. He specializes in turning ashes into beauty if we let Him. That is why we can not but allow Jesus to be at the center of our life to be able to fully possess our true freedom.

How about Miles, Helen’s dead husband?
It is very sad and unfortunate that Miles had to die that way. He must have struggled a lot, too. His burdens and frustrations, which can no longer be expressed, must have ripped him off many things, including his life. One could also tell that Miles was a broken man, who could only take his frustration on people available around him. Someone must be blamed for his problems. How many people are still in that same shoe?

There are burdens we cannot manage with our wisdom and strength. We must seek help, and that takes humility. Transformation of life is what Christ died for. Jesus, however, won’t force Himself on us. We must first acknowledge our sinful nature and ask God for help.

Drunken Master

Drunkenness is never a solution to any problem. It would always compound it. Excusing our flaws and constantly finding people to blame for what is not going on well around us will drench our future and success.

Anger

Anger has always been a destructive master. Master, in the sense that it takes control in that moment of its action. That was the reason the words of wisdom state: “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9.

For the wise people that take solace in the wisdom that lies in the scriptures, the Bible instructs: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave, Ephesians 4:31-32

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city”. Proverbs 16:32

The ancient living word of God says “Let the peace of Christ rule in you” Colossians 3:15. But how can the peace of God rule in our hearts if we are aliens to the way of God? We need a connection to the throne of grace.

Things will continue to happen in our world, but those who put their trust in God will not be put to shame.

God declared: “Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:4.

All we need to do is to let God perform His words and promise in us by opening our hearts to Him and by accepting Him into our lives.