After I shared the story from the previous post, I was approached at the end of the meeting, by a dear lady who came and gave me a hug and said, "You poor woman!" I know that she meant well, and she was just trying to be sympathetic, but I bristled at her words. Afterwards, I had to stop and examine my response, and I realized that I felt defensive, because I do not feel like a "poor woman" due to what has happened in my life. I am thankful for that sweet woman and her unwanted pity, because it brought me to this realization: over the past year and a half, I have felt very broken and I have been in very low places, but I can truly see how God has brought me through the dark times, and even at my lowest, I was a rich woman. Rich in love and in life and in blessings. As the Laura Story song says, sometimes the blessings do come in the the rain and the pain reminds us that this world is not our home. I am a more mature woman, with a deeper faith and a stronger sense of compassion because of what God has done in my life through these terrible, traumatic circumstances. I do not think I am at a place where I can say truthfully that I would want it to happen all over again, but I can, with integrity, tell you that I am deeply grateful for all that God has done in my life, through the good times and the hard times too. He is faithful and I choose to trust Him even when I feel like my world is spinning out of control.
I so relate to the prophet Jeremiah as he shared in Lamentations chapter 3 about all of his hardships for 20 verses but then he came to this
21Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
1 comment:
It is so cool to hear you come through the many trials you've faced and say that you are a rich woman. I know it wasn't that long ago that you so desperately questioned God's timing and reasoning. Completely reasonable and understandable considering the circumstances you faced as a family. How wonderful to have confidence in the spiritual maturity you've gained and that knowledge that you are able to share and uplift others from your experience. I only hope that I can one day come through as graciously as you have when I face trials as deep as yours.
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