Forgiveness – a step closer to healing

While the world has been talking about the 32 victims of Virginia Tech massacre, a college senior, Katelynn L. Johnson, has added a 33rd stone to the campus memorial for Cho.

And here’s what she says: "I believe his life had value no matter what he did. We lost 33 people."

Her stone was understandably removed but then somebody else replaced it with a second stone.

As of today, the stone still stands. She faced a few negative comments but here’s the shocking fact: She received hundreds of messages supporting her.

Katelynn, you have no idea what you have set rolling but there’s a lot to learn from that simple gesture of forgiveness.

The hurting world has a lot to learn from these young hearts that have chosen the road less taken.

Picture credit: destination360.com

News source: Time.com

Step out to experience your miracle

I experienced one of those moments again …

In preparation for our baby, there were a few additions we wanted to make to our home. Of course, that also meant digging deep into our savings and ignoring the fact that we are parents-to-be with a baby fund to stock up.

So we’d been putting away this mega-shopping in favor of buying stuff strictly for the baby rather than for our home.

Last weekend, I felt this gentle but firm assurance within me that we were ready for these purchases. But I was not ready to admit it aloud yet as I wanted my husband to feel this reassurance too without any prompting from me.

Three days later, my husband asked me: What about our mega-shopping?
Me: Well, what do you think?
My husband: I think we should go by what you feel.
Me: Not really but when I look back at the way God has provided for us, I feel a deep reassurance that this will be taken care of too.
My husband: Great! Let’s go for it!

I was stunned!

So it was that we went mega-shopping.

The very next day, we had our miracle: One of us got a bonus at work!

We just had to step out in faith, to see this miracle happen.

It's when these words meant so much more to us!

Picture credit: dutchgardens.com

Don’t wait for a BIG scrubbing!

Lately it’s been a little difficult keeping our home as spic ‘n span as I’d like to. Last evening, my husband decided to take over the cleaning chores ‘from this day onwards’. He did a great job. After a tiring hour or so of scrubbing with some strong chemicals, he reveled in seeing surfaces get their shiny sheen once more. We also realized that we had to use a lot more cleaning agents than usual as we’d neglected these surfaces for quite some time.

At the end of it, he made a statement that set me thinking. He said: Y’ know what my prayer is? I hope that I become very sensitive to the slightest spot of dirt in my life. I don’t want to have to have to go through such a scrubbing later on to remove stubborn stains. Easier to get rid of our unwelcome baggages as each day goes by rather than wait for a BIG scrubbing from above!

He then concluded with this redeeming statement: Yet, in all this uncomfortable scrubbing and chemicals, our Father is with us. He’s the One who’s doing the cleansing. Painful as it may be, He goes through it with us.

And here's something to chew on ... That's reassuring, isn't it? :-)

Picture credit: luminous-landscape.com

His blessings for us

Last evening, my husband and I went shopping for our baby. Though I knew what I needed to pick up on this first trip, once I entered the store the list flew out of the window. I wanted to buy this, that and a lot of other things which, I believed, would be needed for our baby. After a satisfactory evening, we were sharing our excitement about all that we had bought. It was then we realized that if we as earthly parents would want to do all this for our baby, how much more our Heavenly Father waits to bless his children.

He is, after all, the creator of all these emotions we share, the first parent and the One who orchestrated the miracle of birth.

Bless you as you approach the Father’s throne, boldly!

Picture credit: free-slideshow.com