Lessons From the Edge

A sad beginning doesn't prevent a happy ending.

Have you ever heard a sad story, and wondered at how it could possibly produce a happy ending? I witnessed the reality of that situation this week.
I interviewed R for her Resident of the Week feature and got the sad story with the first question.
R was just five weeks old when her mother died and, as the youngest of five children, she was too much for her father to manage. So she was "passed around" between several care-givers during her early years. One woman finally gave R a permanent home when she was 3 years old. But R was not fond of that woman. She said, "She never beat me, but she wasn't nice."
R was not given toys to play with, she was not told of her older brothers and sisters, and spent most of her time doing chores. It was so sad listening to her story.
However, she had one piece of joy.
She had paint-with-water books in which she found solace. And those books were the beginning of a talent which would give her great joy. Oh! If you could only see the paintings she has around her apartment. Paintings she made herself!
R grew up and got married and had three children of her own. She told me stories of rocking her babies to sleep (Twice every day!) and staying up until midnight most nights sewing dresses for her girls. She must have told me ten times how much her daughter's teachers admired the dresses she made.
And her husband. She was so proud of him. Lit up every time she said his name. In fact, she had a very certain sparkle about her when she spoke of her adult years: her family, her cats, the paintings and dresses, all of it - a sparkle which was sadly missing when she spoke of her childhood.

Reflecting on R's life - the story she'd just told me, I was keenly aware of the beauty of God's protection and His ability to redeem a dark place and make it light. We talked about that for a moment and prayed, thanking God for His work in R's life.
I love this aspect of God-stories: A sad beginning doesn't prevent a happy ending.
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A closing PSA: My family and I are going on vacation next week. This here blog is going to be on hold until Monday, August 27. Keep your eyes on JESUS!