Well, the 3-year anniversary of my Dad passing away is coming up on Friday. I didn't think I was going to write anything about it since I've written several blogs before this, but after reading my sister's amazing, touching note on Facebook, I decided to anyway =)
I cannot even begin to explain how blessed I feel today and how much this experience has changed me for the better as I'm typing this today. I actually ended up sharing my testimony to the New York group during our missions' trip and I continued to realize that God gave me a story...my own individual, unique story that He wants me to share with other people. Yes, it may be extremely difficult to do this, considering I bawl everytime, my voice shakes, and it's hard reliving the memories, but God still gave me this huge opportunity! Maybe not many other people have lost their dad's, specifically, but they could have lost other loved ones, whether that be a family member or a close friend.
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."~Romans 8:18
I am so thankful that I have this story to share because through the tough times, I have grown more in love with God everyday. He is my everything. He is my first love. He is my healer and my comforter. He is my shoulder to cry on when I am weak. I want everyone to know this kind of Father like I know Him. He allows me to have joy in my sufferings because I know that one day, I will leave this earth and get to worship my Creator every single second of eternity. Just writing this brings me to tears because of how incredibly amazing this sounds. What a day that will be when all the tears are washed away and I can be with my Heavenly Father forever.
Yes, I do realize this blog is very randomly written, but I felt the need to say that I am SO incredibly thankful and blessed for everything in my life right now. I am willing to suffer for Christ so that I can use my experiences to help others who are going through similar situations. I want to thank everyone who has been there for my family and I through these past 3 years. We are so blessed to have you all in our lives. God is the source of our strength and may the glory be to Him forever and ever. I pray that you may all know this joy and peace that He has given me. God bless you all =)
My father died 10 years ago, when when I was about 11, and this past month my grandfather passed away from a battle with cancer. My dad's death was unexpected and they don't know why he died. It's hard to explain to people that though I morn my grandfather's death, it's brought me so much peace, getting to ask him questions about it, talking about how he wasn't scared, finally having that closure that I didn't get before... And a few years ago, coming back from a mission trip to Mexico,a girl on my team came up to me and asked me about my dads death (her dad had just died), and I was able to share how I felt blessed then too, and we were able to have a long healthy talk it was so good.
ReplyDeleteAll this to say, both our stories are unique, and being able to share them is a blessing, and it's a blessing to hear someone knows how you feel. =)
Grace and Peace
Sarah, thank you so much for sharing this...you are an incredible woman of Christ, and a wonderful example of someone whose eyes are fixed on Him in the trials of life. I've been trying to cling to Romans 8:18 the past week and a half--the truth in that verse is amazing. I'm so glad God has worked in your life the way He has and that you can bless (and have blessed!) so many people because of your dad.
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