This past year and reading
this book has opened my eyes to a lot of things that I take for granted. The first one that comes to my mind is that
God has blessed me with the most wonderful husband in the world. He is always there for me and supports me in
whatever I feel led to do. My niece is
staying with us for awhile. I asked her
if she wanted to get married someday and her response touched my heart. “Yes, if I could have a marriage like you and
Dave. You guys are so sweet to each
other.” I guess the happiness I enjoy
with my husband shows. So I can happily
say today.
Dear God, thank you for my wonderful husband, Dave.
Then when I think of my
children I am blessed. Life is not
perfect in our household, but we are supportive of each other. This has been a very difficult year for us
losing our right to have a completely healthy family. I have been forced to accept that one of our
children might be experiencing mental health issues. It’s all been very hard, but we are in this
together. We recently had a family phone
call to talk about the issues facing our family. Every one of our children are very busy in
their professions, but they stopped, took the time to talk together how we can
help our son. After the phone call ended
I felt so blessed. I did not feel alone
in what we were going through. Praise
God. We can gain in our lives, while
losing.
Dear God, Thank you for our four sons and three
daughters in law.
As I travel around speaking and sharing the gospel with women, I have seen so many women with REAL heath issues. Many of these women experience pain all the time. I can run, I can bike, and I can swim and do just about anything I want without pain. Yes, I could be taking my health for granted, but not anymore.
Dear God, Thank you for good health.
What about life? In the midst of the pain and suffering in my
life, can I find something good to be thankful for, something to praise God
for?
As I finish the book Gaining
Through Losing, I am encouraged as I go through the trial that I am.
Quote from the book
Gaining Through Losing. Evelyn: page 172
The more I lose my right
to have suffering removed, the more I gain the ultimate privilege possible for
any human being: not only being like Christ—but actually sharing His suffering
Page 178
It’s the word commit in 1
Peter 4:19.
So then those who suffer
according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful
Creator and continue to do good.
When we suffer the same
word Christ used on the cross when He was suffering while absolutely
innocent. Jesus, our example who all
through His life entrusted Himself to His Father’s will. Even at the time of His supreme suffering,
the crucifixion, He committed His soul to the Father.
Page 179
And, because I too have
LOST my right to be free from suffering, I have GAINED the greatest of all
gains: I will reign with Jesus.
Are you gaining through
your losses—with God?
Honestly, I have
learned from this book first hand, this year.
Even though I am not at the end of losing, I have the hope that
“something to gain will happen through my story.”
Thank you dear Evelyn, for
all you have taught me through this book.
I remember now, the first time I read this I had to stop in the middle
somewhere because I did not want to deal with losing in my life. Losing is not easy, and how well you know
this, but through it all God’s reasons will one day shine through. I do not know what is going to happen through
my Losing Year, but I do know that I am a different person because of this
year.
Dear God,
Thank you for opening my eyes to the fact
that even though it has been a losing year in some ways in my life, I need to
look beyond and realize the good that is still there waiting for me. Thank you for opening my eyes.
No comments:
Post a Comment