DAY ONE


Did you ever notice that Jesus is ALWAYS at the beginning of things?

We are told that Jesus (the Word) was there are the beginning of the universe.

We recognize HIS birth at the start of our A.D. timeline.

And for those of us who believe in Him, the day we made that choice, was a new beginning in our own lives.

5/21/15 was a big day for me.  I had readied myself for a long-postponed talk with my (now ex) husband.  And though I say “talk”, the truth was I had written him a letter, because at that time our marriage had dissolved to the point where we didn’t even really talk anymore.

The letter was a suggestion from my friend, Cari Zupko.  It told my ex that that I was unfulfilled – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  I said after decades of going to church with him, I didn’t feel any connection to God.  I told him that I had put my relationship with him before my relationship with God and I wanted to go to a new church.  I told him that things needed to change or we would probably end up getting a divorce. 

As I readied myself for the conversation, I felt peace knowing I was taking a necessary step, and that Day One of the rest of my life was waiting. 

I have a drawing in my journal from that morning as I was readying myself to present the letter.  It shows two potential paths.  One that ends with us in a solid marriage with God at the center, the other shows me without him – STILL with God at the center. 

That drawing was accompanied by a prayer:

God, send me anywhere only go with me.

Give me any task, only strengthen me.

Cut any tie, except that which binds me to your will.

I concluded that journal entry by saying regardless of how the talk went, if I put God in His rightful place, at the center of my life, I knew that things would turn out okay.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33

Well - God took me at my word, and whether the ties that were cut were ultimately cut by me, or by Him – I’m not quite sure… but that day eight years ago, is my DAY ONE.  It is the day I put God and my relationship with Him before EVERYTHING else in my life. 

That decision has been the best one I ever made.


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