Over the course of the next five years, our family dealt with the fall out from that December day. The surgeon had hoped by leaving my dad's eye in, as it healed my dad would have restored vision. Unfortunately this was not the case, and in fact over time the eye started to abscess and cause my dad tremendous pain. Finally the decision was made to remove my dad's eye because it became apparent his vision would never be restored. As a kid I remember traveling to San Fransisco for the surgery and being apart of the process where they literally painted a new eye for him. I remember my dad waking up and them asking him if he needed any pain medication and my dad saying, "Are you kidding, this is the first time in years I have been pain free!"
That surgery was really the turning point and the catalyst for some major changes. First my dad completed his doctorate and soon after that we sold the Almond Ranch. In between all this my sister, Suzie attended a Billy Graham crusade and committed her life to Christ. Through her testimony I also became a follower of Christ and my parents re-dedicated their faith. We found a good church home and got actively involved. In 1976 my dad accepted a new job, we moved to a new town, and began attending a new school. I was not happy. Most of all I was not happy with God.
Because I lacked any kind of "a life" I started swimming AAU. At one of the practices I met a girl who invited me to her youth group which met at 6:16 (dumb I thought). She persisted and finally one Wednesday I went and continued to go back. Through the young youth pastor I was able to come to terms with the predicament of my life and found freedom to serve Jesus with my mind, soul and strength. Over the next four years I met my future husband, who happened to be the brother of the girl who initially invited me to attend her youth group.
We married, had five brilliant kids, and owned a business. Life had its ups and down but for the most part God was very faithful and very real in both our lives. So why did this absolute dislike of change surface when we decided to head to the mission field? As I write this journey down I realize all the good things that happened, from the accident, the "positive fall out". Through my dad's accident our family became committed Christ followers, score one for the King. Over time though, the enemy marred my perception to only view the "negative fall out." The move, the pain, the times of feeling completely at odds with my family and God.
With this revelation I had some decisions to make. Would I be willing to step out in faith and follow God's leading for this major change for our family and trust the fall out would be to His glory or would I allow a false perception of a past event cause us to miss out on the greatest adventure yet?
That surgery was really the turning point and the catalyst for some major changes. First my dad completed his doctorate and soon after that we sold the Almond Ranch. In between all this my sister, Suzie attended a Billy Graham crusade and committed her life to Christ. Through her testimony I also became a follower of Christ and my parents re-dedicated their faith. We found a good church home and got actively involved. In 1976 my dad accepted a new job, we moved to a new town, and began attending a new school. I was not happy. Most of all I was not happy with God.
Because I lacked any kind of "a life" I started swimming AAU. At one of the practices I met a girl who invited me to her youth group which met at 6:16 (dumb I thought). She persisted and finally one Wednesday I went and continued to go back. Through the young youth pastor I was able to come to terms with the predicament of my life and found freedom to serve Jesus with my mind, soul and strength. Over the next four years I met my future husband, who happened to be the brother of the girl who initially invited me to attend her youth group.
We married, had five brilliant kids, and owned a business. Life had its ups and down but for the most part God was very faithful and very real in both our lives. So why did this absolute dislike of change surface when we decided to head to the mission field? As I write this journey down I realize all the good things that happened, from the accident, the "positive fall out". Through my dad's accident our family became committed Christ followers, score one for the King. Over time though, the enemy marred my perception to only view the "negative fall out." The move, the pain, the times of feeling completely at odds with my family and God.
With this revelation I had some decisions to make. Would I be willing to step out in faith and follow God's leading for this major change for our family and trust the fall out would be to His glory or would I allow a false perception of a past event cause us to miss out on the greatest adventure yet?
1 comment:
"'And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.' And they did so." - Ex 14:4
Your post shows that obstacles, difficulties and adversity are often the tools God uses to make Himself known.
This is why we can "Rejoice in the Lord always!" (Phil 4:4a).
Thanks for showing this in your life.
Post a Comment