Recovery is for You!
I was sitting here today thinking about this new adventure for me. I am not much of a writer, but when I start thinking about my journey, I do have a lot to write. I sat this Christmas and looked over my family and the blessings that I had before me. I have a beautiful and loving wife and two healthy and athletic boys. I am a blessed man.
However, you may be sitting there reading this post and thinking about what's happening in your life. Things may not be going well, so while I have your attention, I want you to think about something. Six years ago things in my life radically changed and I entered into a place that I will never forget.
Amy and I walked through a dark valley in our marriage and it was because of me. I tell folks that she is my earthly example of Christ's heavenly forgiveness. She walked through my battles and faced the darkness with me. Then when we thought the sun was going to shine again we were put into the darkest valley we have ever been in. I don't want to go back to that valley ever again. There are still lessons I am learning from it, six years later. Amy and I experienced the loss of our little girl, Caroline Grace.
I am still not over my daughters death and I don't think I ever will be, but I can say that on this side of six years that God is an awesome God. How you may ask? How did you walk through that valley? Well, Amy and I both realized that we were not the only ones who had walked that path. There were others who come along beside us and encouraged us along our journey.
I say all that to encourage you. Yes, your 2016 may not have been the best year. Granted, we all have times in our lives we would like to forget about. However, our minds will not allow us to leave all things behind. There are probably hurts, habits, and hang-ups that you are facing in your life now. You may think that you are a "mess". Well, welcome to the club. You are reading from someone who is also a mess.
So why is God so awesome? He loves to work in our mess. I am one of those people. I can relate to your pain. I can relate to your shame. I can relate to your hurt. I can relate to your obnoxious habits. I can relate with you because I too am a mess. But I am so glad that my awesome God is in the recycling business.
So if you are sitting there thinking about 2017 and are afraid of the days ahead, would you join this journey with me. I am going to try and blog each day. I will be vulnerable and share things with you if you allow me to. If there is something that speaks to you along the way, please email me and share it with me. I want to hear about you and what you are going through. I want to know about you. I also desire to hear about your victories.
Promise me something along the way. Promise me that you will begin the journey. Step out of your denial and acknowledge that you have a hurt, habit, or hang-up going on. We have been too silent with one another for too long. We have said, "I'm fine..." too many times.
I think about my past days and wish I would have shared things in my life with someone I trusted, but I did not. Please don't make the same mistake. Know that what you share with me will be between us. (Note: If you share that you are going to hurt yourself or others then I will share with someone else.) Let's walk together our journey of hope and healing. Things will not change over night, but they will change. Please stop saying you are fine and acknowledge those hurts, habits and hang-ups that you have been facing. If you are walking through a hard time, now is the time to do something about it. Let's both see the sun shine again in 2017. I look forward to hearing from you as we walk the journey together. You can email me through the website or at jturner@dreamcenterpc.org