Restored Gifts

Something happened, unforeseen, emerging from the reserve of my heart for continued healing. HE is a God that gives back what was lost or what was taken. I think of Job when all was taken from him, yet, in Job's steadfast love in long-suffering for God, all was, indeed, restored back to him TEN fold!

After posting Hannah's story about her father -- this wonderful-co-struggler blessed to call husband, I sat at the computer this morning, viewing the comments from Hannah's story and started to cry ...(no surprise there)
Feelings of mixed emotions filled my heart along with flooded memories --mingled with joy, peace, and saddness. Could that be? Should pain mix with joy only to be like Good medicine for your soul? Tears are cleansing...truly welcoming when upon you.

You see, at my sweet-daughter's age of 9, my father and mother were already divorced. An ugly, dragged out divorce where my two brothers, sister and I were pulled into the middle. Many-many seasons have passed bringing me back to dead-winter memories where "the years that locusts have eaten".

In trusting God, by allowing His Holy will to enter in -- to taste and see that the Lord is Good, I am comforted that Restoration is for all, given to us in a new born Child... "For God so Loved the World that He sent His ONLY begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not parish but have everlasting life." HE is Wonderful, Counselor, the All-Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the ever-lasting Father...

Please do not think me in despair. For, I am not, by God's grace, have found peace and joy during the seasons of life where in this Blessed gift of Family, which has been returned to an unworthy Handmaiden of God -- Ten fold! May the Lord have His continued Mercies on us all.

I am experiencing true Joy that my children have a father who loves so much to discipline them, provide, hug, laugh, and cry with. There is also experiences of bitter-sweetness, that each day is a God-given opportunity to Restore what was lost.

" O Lord, grant me to meet
the coming day in peace.
Help me in all things to rely upon Your holy will.

In every hour of the day reveal Your will to
me. Bless my dealings with all who
surround me.
Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout

the day with peace of soul, and with firm conviction
that Your will governs all. In all my deeds and
words guide my thoughts and
feelings. In unforeseen events let me not
forget that all are sent by You.
Teach my to act firmly and wisely,
without embittering and embarrassing
others. Give me strength to bear
the fatigue of the coming day with all that
it shall bring. Direct my
will, teach me to pray, pray You Yourself in me.
Amen"
by Metropolitian Philaret