A curve, a speed bump, a fork
in the road…changes in life sometimes spring out of the blue. Some changes are
planned, some are a surprise and some just leave you shaking your head, or a
slight tilt with the response of, "really?"
I'm not a panicker. (is that a word?) I take life
pretty much in stride. I do get stressed and it tends to bring about some small
health issues, but for the most part, I don't panic. A friend once said,
"Valarie, I don't think your life has ever been dull!" She was so
very right. It never has been. I will say, however, the last couple of years
have been downright crazy! (that's an understatement) There have been valleys,
changes, regrets, pain, sorrow, grief and junk! If I went into everything that
has happened, I would be well on my way to writing a novel.
But here's the key in all of this; how we handle all this
"stuff" is very important. You see, the world is watching, especially
when you are a believer in Christ. People watch to see you slip up, go nuts, or
totally lose your sense of composure or worse, your faith. They wait for you to
get mad at God or to turn your back on your beliefs.
Now, with everything that has happened, it would be understandable
if my faith wavered or my trust with God came into question…but it hasn't. My
faith and trust in mankind has been rocked, but that's a given. When you experience
loss, albeit in death or in life, you grieve. You grieve the things that used
to be or you grieve the people you once had in your life. Whether they have
passed on or exited some other way. I've experienced both sides in the last
couple or more. My faith has been tested for sure. My marriage has been rocked
in a way that I would have never imagined. My belief in myself as a wife and a
mother has been taken to the depths of almost self-wallowing.
There was this song that was very popular years back by a band
called, Chumbawamba. The chorus goes: "I get knocked down, but I get
up again. You're never gonna keep me down" Yeah, you remember it! Well,
that is my motto! Truly. But an even better Chorus or in this case verse of
scripture goes: "I am
pressed but not crushed, persecuted, not abandoned, struck down but not
destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8-10). Many of you know that one too. It's a better motto to
live by, because the end of that says, I am blessed beyond the curse for His
promise will endure, and His joy's gonna be my strength. That’s the Joy of
The Lord!
With each “thing” that comes
about, I get a little knocked down…but I do get back up again. Sometimes it
amazes me how people are afraid to approach you when “things happen”. They don’t
know what to say, I guess. But I am here to tell you….I’m not afraid to talk
about it. I’m not afraid to tell you about my struggles, my heartaches, my bad
choices or the consequences that have come from those choices. I’m also not afraid to tell you that I love
Jesus and He truly is my rock that I focus on. It’s what keeps me going…and it’s
what keeps my family together, loving each other through this thing called life!
Chris and I made a promise a long time ago that no matter what…we would make it! We would persevere. One day
at a time. That promise has been tested…time and again but here we are, still making it…one day
at a time. It wouldn't be possible without this one little (or big) thing
called, Forgiveness. We've had to have a LOT of it.
So I ask you…How will you
handle it? It is your testimony and honestly, you never know who is watching or
who may just need to know your story. We all need to be encouraged. We need to
be lifted up. That’s the roll of The Body. And even if you are not a Christ
follower…the same applies. Love others!
Thanks for reading!
