Reflections

It’s Sunday. I watched Andy Stanley’s message at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta GA as usual. Andy teaches you, he talks to you, never “preaches” at you. Today’s message is Pivotal Circumstances; what would your response be when life takes you by surprise. What happens when your personal faith is tested, anger, panic, doubt? What do you do?

This brought reflection to times of trial in my life. Trials that could have severely tested my faith. Lisa’s diagnosis of a rare, genetic cancer, a mutation of the SDHB gene shocked the entire family. This precious girl would endure so much over the next 15 months. Certainly this would be a test of my faith. But Lisa’s faith!! Wow, she sustained all the family with her strength, courage and unconditional faith. She won many battles but could not win the war on this horrific disease.

In January 2011, God placed me, with my friend Heidi, in a Spiritual Journey for Women (SJFW) class two months prior to Lisa’s diagnosis. Such a God wink. I’m not sure how my faith would have been sustained, yes even grown through this trial without her and many supporting friends. SJFW was a safe place to cry, to share, to be held by Christian sisters, an oasis in the desert. We all had a story. The ability to share each other’s grief and pain was surprisingly comforting.

Three years later, Mike collapsed in my arms, and while giving CPR, he suddenly and unexpectedly left the bonds of this earth. Another test of faith. How could I respond to this loss and continue to grow in faith and trust? Prayers from family and friends. The family struggled together through both of these trials. There were other tests and there will always be. But we all traveled the journey of grief together.

During the next six plus years, I maintained. I never lost faith, I never asked why. I found sharing was healing. I am able to share my trials with those having similar tests of faith. I’m still sharing and hopefully helping those in need of caring, love and instilling the promises of God.

C.S. Lewis writes: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Finally, I started a new journey two years ago, ready to make new memories with faith, hope, and continued love of my family. A new state, a new city near my sweet family. Life is what you make of it, Seeing with the eyes of your heart, the beauty surrounding you, the reflections of those you love.