A Day to Remember

Yesterday was a day for remembering.  It was a happy remembrance – of God’s grace, His perfect plan for my life, and for His Word that is always sufficient.  It was a day of remembering 25 years ago when our daughter Ashley was delivered still-born.  Wow.  Twenty-five years.

I told someone recently that I’m still learning things from that trial.  Now that it’s been so many years, I can see a little clearer why the Lord may have allowed that to happen.  That isn’t always necessary, but sometimes, in His grace, God allows us to understand the purpose. 

This trial taught me some really valuable spiritual lessons – things like:

• God’s Word will always be my best comfort. 
• It is always sufficient for every need of my life.
• God loves me and will never forsake me – even when He allows difficult personal situations to happen to me and my family.
• Trials are good for me, for they propel me towards God.
• Though I am moved in trials, God never is; therefore He can be my Strong Tower.
• My heart will heal with God’s help, and I will not always carry the grief I feel during the trial.
• God wants to use my trials to bring glory to Himself.

Personally I learned some important truths:

• My husband really loves me.  He used this trial to draw us together, rather than apart, as it does many couples.
• Many times the best thing to do to comfort a person who is grieving is to say nothing, but only show love and weep with them in their grief.
• Time does heal the wound of sorrow, but the memory sweetens and remains.

My husband and I don’t make a big issue each year of the memory of our loss, but we share it together in a special way that continues to knit our hearts to one another and the Lord.  Yesterday, I was so blessed to be pampered by him in order to remember Ashley and make it a special day.  He took me to lunch at a fun place, then he delivered me to the spa at Carnegie Hotel where he’d made an appointment for me to have a manicure.  How thoughtful is that?!

Austin Springs spa is a really special place.  They took me to the Relaxation Area to wait for my appointment.  It was dim, quiet, and yes, relaxing.

A blessing from this visit was that I shared with the manicurist why my husband had sent me there.  I had the opportunity to talk with her about God’s grace and the joy of heaven.  Again, another opportunity to serve, due to the trial!

Post manicure pose with a long-stemmed white rose (given by the spa when I left), and, of course, still slightly wet nails.

I’m thankful I’ll see Ashley some day!  But until then, my heart will go on singing.  Until then, with joy I’ll carry on…

What trial in your life has taught you the most about your God?

With love,