The Uexpected Outcome

There are few times in life when you can step back and suddenly see how everything fits together perfectly--almost as if that was the way it was always meant to be. And most importantly, each piece of that puzzle was uniquely memorable. It all held a purpose in who you are.

I grew up being reminded on a regular basis that I was not very smart; and to make matters worse, I was a very slow learner too. I usually would study longer and practice more than other children my age, just to achieve a passing grade. I knew I was really trying, but it just didn't seem to come easy. I watched as my peers finished schoolwork in a matter of minutes while it took me hours and even days sometimes. At an early age, I had accepted that I would not go far with my education and the best plan was to find a good husband and be a housewife. I was quite happy with that plan, but as life would have it things went differently.

My senior year of high school, I found myself enrolled in a junior college taking everything from writing classes to math and computer courses. By the time I transferred to a 4 year college, I had a 3.8 GPA. It still took me 7 years to graduate from college; but when I was handed that diploma and turned back, there was nothing left of that young girl who had little-to-no esteem for herself or her abilities. Somewhere, that girl had learned perseverance, determination, and an ability to keep on going regardless of the circumstance.

I can't speak to whether each event that occurred during my journey was called into being by the Lord, but I am certain that He knew these events would occur and He used those events to grow me. I see the Lord revealed in His mercy, in His love, and in His promise to never forsake me. I would not trade a single pain that I have endured and risk never seeing what the Lord has to reveal.

There can be blessings in everything.

Women of Faith

I heard this story years ago and came across this clip recently and had to share it. In 1956, five young, married couples traveled to the jungles of Ecuador as Christian missionaries. At the time, there were native tribes that had not yet been reached by missionaries and part of their goal was to attempt to make contact with these tribes. In this clip, the women recount the events that unfolded in Ecuador.

The thing that always gets me about this story is their unwavering faith in God. It is amazing how God can take the most devastating circumstances and see us through them; and not just sustain us, but use those situations to grow us. These wives are a great testimony to the love and faithfulness of the Lord. If you get a chance, you should definitely watch the full movie called Beyond the Gates of Splendor.