I am thankful

We sat on the porch of the house in Blairsville, enjoying the scenery of mountain tops covered in, what looked like, beautiful patchwork.  The season is changing thus bringing alive the most brilliant of colors for us to admire.  With nothing for us to do and no where for us to go, (just what we asked for by coming up here) our mouths did all the moving.  As the hours went by, one by one, we all shared our stories of tragedy and triumph.  The details of each were different, of course, but as the emotions flowed, I saw the common ground in which we all stood...thankful.  Reliving some of our most painful memories, hot tears streaked our cheeks but this time, for me anyway, it was more out of joy than out of sorrow.  It was with the ability to see with a God’s eye view.  I had mourned for a great long while and thought I would never find a day where I would feel normal again but indeed it approached about two months ago and here I sat, able to tell my story in thankfulness...thankfulness...sorry, I have to say it again...thankfulness.  It's very foreign to me that I could actually be thankful for the near death of my marriage but in reflecting on it, on that porch, with two of the most amazing women I have ever met, I could honestly say I was thankful.  For that very reason, I was able to tell my story and remember my pain with gladness.  In talking with my friends, I soon found out that they too were thankful for what they had gone through as well.  It was the worst of times in our lives but, by choosing to walk with the Lord through it, we saw that it became the best of times.  We crossed a line from understanding our Abba’s love for us to actually experiencing, feeling, knowing and growing in that love.  I can honestly say that had it not been for my “near death experience”, I would not know the Lord like I do today.  Had it not been for the tragedy that my marriage faced, I would not have the opportunity to invest in the lives of others the way God allows me to now and had it not been for walking in total darkness, I would have no clue what the ladies beside me had felt and my responses to them would be cold and rigid.  I am thankful that my life fell apart two years ago.  I am thankful my husband and I never gave up our fight.  I am thankful God has fully restored us and I am thankful that He has made me thankful.

Joy is always available

Traffic was non-existent as we took a long Sunday drive down to south Griffin.  The sun blazed in the clear blue skies but the early fall weather (early for Georgia anyway) brought a chilly breeze and cool crisp air.  It truly was a perfect day.  We pulled into the driveway of the Holloway home and my heart filled with anticipation.  Seth, Jocelyn and I walked up to the door and gave it a subtle knock.  We were received by a beautiful young girl and escorted to her father's room.  John, the Bishop over our church only a short four years ago, now lay in a hospital bed with a home nurse at his side.   A severe stroke put him in this state, causing a loss of speech, a brain bleed that brought on the removal of half his skull, as well as a clot that led to a partial leg amputation.  What this horrible inncident did NOT take, besides some of the obvious things such as the ability to sustain life and understand others, was his joy and peace.  His countenance proved this truth as our entrance into his world was met with a smile a million miles long which spread across his gleaming face.  He muttered words we could not understand and held out his hand for us to take as a greeting.  The expression of happiness continued as my husband administered communion.  After receiving the elements, he gave us a blessing with the sign of the cross and as I went over by his side to say my farewell, he took my hand, pulled me in, and kissed my cheek.  While the visit was short, it will be a memory I hold forever and though the intention of our visit was to bless him, I believe the greater blessing was given to us.

This man, whose life changed in an instant, who could have easily fallen into depression and given up on life a long time ago has chosen not to sell his peace for despair, has chosen to count it all joy, and has chosen to keep on following after God's own heart no matter what the circumstances.  May it always be a reminder that no matter what may come, joy is always available in the side of the Lord.