Fourth of July

Four years ago at this time I was preparing to get married the next week. The following fourth of July I was settling in to the fact that my marriage was over. But God works through all our bad, tough stuff to bring glory to him. And He sure has!

Three years ago I spent my first 4th with my family in years! I still needed their support and comfort. 4th of July was the first official holiday since we determined it was over. I still needed to tell my family (my extended family) and that was probably the worst part of it all. Really made you feel like a failure. I relied heavily on God during that time and really truly could not have made it without him.

My mom at the time was not saved and not really a fan of God either. I remember on one of my darkest days my mom said to me, " you know you're going to have to deal with this and not just leave it up to God. You are using Him as a crutch." I don't really know how to respond and then the words just came out. "Crutches are for people who can't walk on their own. And right now I can't. So I need my crutches." That was in February of that year.

When I went up for the 4th of July my mom said she wanted to check out this church that she had tried years before. I told her I'd go with her even though part fo me really wanted to go my friends church. I mean, how could I say no though?

This church is definitely a seekers church, one that reaches out to the community and makes everyone feel welcome and at home. Not a Sunday's finest kind of place. We sat about half way up on the right hand side of the sanctuary. It started off with some really good praise and worship and I liked it. My mom seemed into it as well. Good sign.

Then the sermon started. Being the 4th and all it was about freedom. The freedom that you can only ever have by serving and loving God. As we sat there, I couldn't help but feel like this sermon was written just for my mom. I wondered if she was taking it in. At one point the pastor said (I swear this happened!!) "I feel like I need to be speaking in this direction" and turned toward us. I swear he was looking right at her. I was kinda surreal. And I wondered if she noticed or felt the same way.

Well...she did! We talked afterwards and I didn't want to push her so I just asked what she thought of it all. She too felt like it was just for her! :-). That was three years ago. Since then she's been baptized, she's a member of her church and she is very involved...pretty much in everything!!

This Fourth of July, I am preparing for my trip to Uganda (did I mention I'm going to Uganda?!). My we've come a long ways in three years!

I can't help but look back over the last four years and think of all the wonderful things that came out of my pain. Without those trials I probably won't be as close to Christ as I am now. And surely I wouldn't be going to Uganda with some wonderful people that I met at Hope! And what about my mom?! What a blessing it's been to watch her grow strong in her faith and become a child of God.

Happy Fourth of July, y'all!!!!