Doing What Comes Naturally

I haven't mentioned yet, that for almost 23 years I was a pastor's wife.  So I was familiar with ministering to hurting people.  Even though that marriage ended in divorce, that didn't stop the fact that God had called me to minister to others.  And I believe that each of His children are called to minister daily in some way to the people around them. 

As a reminder to you, my prayer during this ordeal was, "Lord, help me to honor You and honor George in everything I do and say, and let others see Jesus in me."  So, even though I was overwhelmed, I was beginning to see that there were other people who were overwhelmed as well.  So I began doing what comes naturally to me.  And believe me when I say, it was only by God's magnificent grace that I was able to put a smile on my face and encourage others who were affected by my son's death, when all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry.  

You might be thinking, "wait a minute... you were the one that needed to be ministered to!"  You are right, I did, but in giving hugs, sharing smiles, listening to others share their grief, I was being ministered to.  See, it was almost as if God was saying to me, "I'm here, you are not doing this alone, I've got you covered."  

I've got to hit the pause button again.  When you do what God has called you to do, you may be criticized. Do it anyway.  And don't be surprised if that criticism comes from the least likely people!  His ways are higher than our ways and His thought are higher than our thoughts.  Not everyone is going to get it.  That's okay. 

There would be a memorial service for George in a few days and a graveside service the day after that.  But until then all I could do was one day at a time.  And at night in the darkness the questions would come, the pain would cut deep and I would curl up in that ball and cry out for my boy.  And eventually sleep would come.

I don't know where you are on your journey.  Maybe it's just begun for you, or maybe you have traveled a long way.  Wherever you are on your journey, I want you to know that there can be joy along the way.  Sometime we cannot see it while we are in that deep, dark pit that grief takes us to.  But looking back you will see it, and don't give up, because there is

Sunshine After the Storm
Blessings
Betsy

Boot Camp Graduation, Spring 2001