Lesson #11: In life, the real blessing is God Himself
I'm reflecting on where I was last year...well, for one, I was in Honduras. But beyond that, I was also having a difficult time. I felt as though I was failing as a teacher, I couldn't be with Tim on our first anniversarry, and my mother was very unhappy with me because of my decision to fly home for Christmas. It was through that difficult time that God began to teach me about His blessings. As I reflect on where I am today, I am overwhelmed by everything that God is doing or has done. I have so much to be thankful for!
At the time that Tim proposed to me in April in Honduras, I felt so isolated from everyone-like I didn't have anyone's support or even approval (at least not from my family and friends back home). I felt crushed because my sister told me not to marry him and my mother was disappointed in me for saying "yes." Through that time, I had to trust God. It meant so much to me that Tim was willing and wanted to wait to have my parents' blessing. Although I know it took a miracle, my parents finally gave their blessing the night that we took them out to eat at the Chinese buffet! As we began planning the wedding, I began to feel support on every side. Melinda and Darrick wanted to pay for us to have the wedding at their church, my mom wanted to pay for the wedding dress, Laury wanted to plan my wedding shower and bachelorette party, and Buita wanted to pay for the cake. As if that wasn't enough to be thankful for, Tim and I are about to celebrate our 2nd anniversarry together (the date is a surprise). When I compare where I was one year ago to where I am today, I see the different ways in which God works.
Last year, I felt God's love and presence as I turned to Him in desperation. This year, I feel God's love as I see how he has brought us all together and allowed for the details of the wedding to work out wonderfully. In both ways, He has caused me to turn to Him: in desperation and in love and thankfulness. But, in any case, I would say the real blessing is God Himself.
"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Phil. 4:13 (from the Message)
At the time that Tim proposed to me in April in Honduras, I felt so isolated from everyone-like I didn't have anyone's support or even approval (at least not from my family and friends back home). I felt crushed because my sister told me not to marry him and my mother was disappointed in me for saying "yes." Through that time, I had to trust God. It meant so much to me that Tim was willing and wanted to wait to have my parents' blessing. Although I know it took a miracle, my parents finally gave their blessing the night that we took them out to eat at the Chinese buffet! As we began planning the wedding, I began to feel support on every side. Melinda and Darrick wanted to pay for us to have the wedding at their church, my mom wanted to pay for the wedding dress, Laury wanted to plan my wedding shower and bachelorette party, and Buita wanted to pay for the cake. As if that wasn't enough to be thankful for, Tim and I are about to celebrate our 2nd anniversarry together (the date is a surprise). When I compare where I was one year ago to where I am today, I see the different ways in which God works. Last year, I felt God's love and presence as I turned to Him in desperation. This year, I feel God's love as I see how he has brought us all together and allowed for the details of the wedding to work out wonderfully. In both ways, He has caused me to turn to Him: in desperation and in love and thankfulness. But, in any case, I would say the real blessing is God Himself.
"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Phil. 4:13 (from the Message)
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