Sharing My Story...

It's hard to say these things and some of you know, but... It may encourage someone, so I'm willing to share...

Going into the new year is the perfect time to take stock of the past and reframe the future. Consider how a huge life event that was painful or even tragic helped teach you a positive lesson. I recently shared my life/faith testimony at a Magnificat breakfast. I shared what I gained from three difficult, life-changing events.

The first was my father's repeated rejection of me. The second, my brother's suicide. The third, was my divorce (many years ago, prior to meeting my wonderful husband of the past 24 years).

I asked God why these events happened to me and this was what I felt He answered:

I didn't want you to call anyone else 'Daddy' except for Me. I used that place for Me to fill as your true Father.

I needed a deeper place in your heart for Me, so I used your pain and loss when your brother died, to carve out a bigger space for Me to love you and you to love Me.

You never asked me if your ex-husband was the one I chose for you, so when he left, I just let him go. I had someone special for you already in mind.

How would God answer you if you asked a similar question?