dear mom and dad,
last week we celebrated a miracle. God has healed what many said would be impossible. my prayer for you is that the past will truly be overcome and love and forgiveness will reign in your marriage. may this chapter of your lives be the happiest yet.
your marriage brought back so many thoughts and memories of our family. i have been thinking about all our family has been through over the years and i realized how much you both have taught me. through all the ups and downs i can see the hand of God providing, guiding, protecting, sustaining and teaching me. let me number the ways...
1) growing up i never really knew that at times things were financially tough. we always had enough to eat, clothes on our backs, and a house that mom lovingly turned into our home. i always felt secure and cared for. i watched dad work hard to provide for our family and i know now that you both sacrificed your own desires for us. (sorry that you never got that bass boat, dad!) it taught me that family was really what was important.
2) i learned from you that when hard times come you must lean on the Lord and on each other. Our family has weathered some very sad times and through them all i watched your faith, rock solid, relying first on the Lord and also the other to make it through. mom, i witnessed you take the heart break of losing your son and turn your eyes to heaven with praise on your lips. your example is one of the single most poignant demonstrations of faith that has touched my life.
3) you taught me unconditional love. and i tested it! (sorry about that!) when i came to you, having failed and disappointed you with my choices, you were there for me. it was your love and support that gave me confidence and courage. and through the Lord's grace, a time of difficulty was turned to blessing.
4) and when your marriage faced it darkest hours i learned that even the strongest marriages are vulnerable if left unattended. mark and i have talked about this lesson often, vowing to do what it takes to protect our marriage from such pit falls. we are striving to keep our relationship as a top priority, second only to our relationship with the Lord.
5) if i learned something from your troubled marriage, so much more so in your reconciliation! mom, God met your needs when you were alone. he comforted and sustained you. your attitude of love and forgiveness amazed all, even when righteous anger would have been acceptable. your prayers and your patience have won out.
where would our family be without the Lord? mired in bitterness, unforgiveness, and hopelessness? He has taught us to trust and rest in Him. through good times and bad we are in his hands. and we are family.
mom and dad, i love you and am so thankful for you.
4 comments:
The enemy would seek to destroy hope and bring death, BUT greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. God indeed can restore and renew life and hope! What an awesome God we serve!
Rejoicing with you all. :)
Isaiah 61:3~and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
:) God is sovereign~
So love this post, Stacy and even more what it celebrates! Congratulations to your mom and dad!!
Oh, Stacy,
What a wonderful, sweet tribute to the Grace and Mercy of our God! He has, indeed, sustained us and brought us almost full-circle to His side. "Almost" because we won't know His full plan until we see Him face to face in Glory. Thanks is way short of what we feel for you and your precious family for all you mean to us and for sticking by us through it all. You've been an awesome daughter your whole life and we wouldn't take anything for you. I hope dad will post a comment, but if he doesn't, you can know he feels all this in his heart and says it in many ways. We love you all more than we can say. Mother
Oh Stacy! What a lovely thing you wrote. Your mom is amazing..her trust in the Lord is abounding. I am so praising God for restoring her deepest desire. Tell them both, congrads from us here and that we are happy beyond description and so thankful!! Praise God!!
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