Really made me think...

I had a conversation at work that really made me ponder a few things.
This week, a woman I work with was talking about a prisoner of war who had been missing for something like 14 years. She mentioned that a Christian singer (her name has escaped me) had traveled all the way from Alaska to sing at this POW's 'funeral'. The family was so appreciative of her and what she had done and it was a very moving service.

What my co-worker went on to tell me was that this woman had endured some pain of her own. She is a breast cancer surviver. As many people know, when someone goes through treatment for cancer they tend to lose all of their hair. This singer was no exception. She looks at her past situation like this though... She shares with others and has even written a book about how she will NEVER have another bad hair day.

This thought is amazing to me! How many countless hours have I spent in front of the mirror messing with my hair, make-up, etc. and have been so frustrated with the result that I find myself in TEARS?! It was like a slap in the face to me to hear this story. I thought to myself, "At least you have hair!" From now on, I am going to try my hardest to force those "I'm not good enough/pretty enough/thin enough/ENOUGH" thoughts out of my head. I am a woman and God has every page of my life written out -- He knows everything! So, I can either go on pouting and complaining about everything that comes my way or I can choose to be like this singer/cancer surviver and never have another bad day.

This conversation also made me think about the relationship of husband and wife. I really feel for the women who have to go on with their day to day life knowing that the man they love is away putting his life on the line for our country. It made me think: If Greg were to go off to war and never return, what would I do?
Would I continue searching for him?
Would I need closure?
What would I tell our children?

The deepest question that absolutely radiated through me was this... If he was a prisoner that had been taken captive, would I know he was still alive waiting to be rescued? I am closest to my husband more than anyone else on this planet, so it seems to me that if he were still alive -- bruised, hurting, bleeding, beaten & defeated -- I would feel his pain and want to bring him back home. I truly believe that when you enter into the union of marriage your spouse becomes part of you. I think I would know if Greg was still alive because he is part of me.

Then I thought that the pain I sometimes feel in life is nothing compaired to what God must have felt watching his Son die for a crime he didn't commit. I could not imagine. God understands every circumstance because He had to give up something so precious -- His Son. God truly has a hand in everything that takes place in our lives. Whatever we are going through -- whether it is cancer or losing a family member like in the story my co-worker shared with me -- God will give us the strength to endure it and overcome it.

So, this blog goes out to all survivers of something truly life changing. Whether it be cancer, losing a spouse, graduating from college, running a marathon, buying a house. having a child, moving across the country, retiring from a career... whatever it may be, God had a hand in it and it will shape you into the person He wants you to be.