Have you ever gone through certain events in your life whether it be a parent, friend, child or even yourself that has endured sickness, accident or hardship and heard them say “why me?” or even yourself saying this? Well, I’ve often said this myself and a really special friend of mine turned that around for me when he became sick with cancer and while he was fighting this dreadfulness said, “why not me?” This became my mantra after we all watched him fight his battle to ultimately win his healing with Jesus. He chose to spread the Gospel and praise God through his sickness to bring the lost to Jesus. He spread his joy even in his sickness to show God’s light and mercy.
In my “Be Still” moment this morning with our Heavenly Father, it became clear that my “why not me?” has been the source to tell my story of trauma, abuse, and healing and with that is an incredible sense of gratefulness. It sounds strange to say that I’m thankful for the trauma and pain but honestly, I wonder if I would be the person, I am right this minute without it. So, I’m grateful for it all. Grateful that the Lord has placed it in my heart to encourage, advocate, and write here. Grateful for my precious family that surrounds me with their love and support. My beautiful daughter went through her own heartbreak right before my divorce and still had the patience and love to be next to me through it all. My precious son and daughter in love and grandboys are always so loving and full of fun all this even makes me more grateful. Grateful for so many friends in the last few years that prayed and encouraged me along the way. I even had a friend tell me that I was a powerful woman, and I really didn’t understand at the time probably because I was trauma bonded but there is real power in starting over and in true healing. She like so many others I have in my life saw things in me I could not. I believe the real power comes from allowing God to turn our messes into His beauty and masterpieces. By allowing Him to guide me through the healing I have His power which to me is the best kind to have. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He brings out goodness even when we think there is nothing but darkness. Such as Romans 8:28 states “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purposes.” This goodness is for His purposes and His glory. When I look at my past traumas and heartbreak and see them as steppingstones to my healing it’s not all in vain but a catalyst for His glory and greater purposes. So today I’m truly grateful for it all, and thankful that I have Him to guide me.