Standing on my Soap Box

“Wow! You are so brave”. “You are handling the world on your shoulders; I don’t know how you are carrying all this.” These are the words I have heard lately, and to fill you in on my world since the beginning of March 2020.

• My divorce is finally through and completed.
• I have worked through the first phase of COVID at home.
• During that time, my mom completely lost all eye site, had a few major health issues, and eventually passed away August 11th.
• My dad went to the hospital due to infection, also had a few health issues and now has weeks to a few months left on this earth.

I am not telling you this for sympathy. I am telling you because this has been my reality for the past 5 months. To be honest, when someone says I do not know how you are carrying all this, I really wasn’t given a choice. I do not think anyone would choose this kind of life.

But through (and ONLY through) the grace of God am I surviving this thing called life. “God only gives you what you can handle” I no longer believe this. I also don’t believe that this is from God. What I DO BELIEVE is that God is with me through all of this.

I believe that God has amazing plans for me and my family, and Satan does not like it. I believe that God has allowed it (just like he allowed all the trouble Job went through), but I don’t believe that he has orchestrated the stuff we as a family have gone through.

So why am I telling you this? (You know I have to ask this – I normally do) I believe that through my openness and honesty that you will see a God, who while grieved with us at the many things happening in our family, he is there carrying us through these times. I used to think that if I lost even one of my parents, I would be a basket case, I am not (well, at least not completely). I however KNOW with all my being, that God is compassionate, and never failing, and with us always and in all things. God’s love never fails.