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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: BLESSED (03/07/19)
Poverty … a word I understand.

As a child, home was two rooms. These were not the typical two rooms in an apartment. My mother and I lived in two upstairs bedrooms and rented from the folks below, which meant we had no kitchen. The list of what we didn’t have was long. Telephone. Stove. Refrigerator. Car.

We had an icebox. I can still see the man climbing our outside stairway, the massive tongs over his shoulder clasping a huge block of ice on his back.

After marriage, three children and divorce, I once again came face to face with being poor. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment … containing two bunkbeds. It was a long road up from there. But we moved from one bedroom to two bedrooms (where they had to draw straws to see who would share a room with me) and then four bedrooms.

Now I live in a wonderful home, drive a newer car and have enough money for food, bills and stuff. I am blessed with material possessions.

But that’s not all I have.

My journey has taken me from that poverty-stricken childhood … through the years of not enough money at the end of the month … to now. I have acquired far more than earthly goods.

I have Jesus.

He was right there with me when my child had emergency surgery and I sat in the waiting room alone. His presence was very real, and He told me everything would be all right. When a different child skated through a window and was bleeding profusely, He sent a doctor who just happened to be walking by. Jesus held me as I waited to see if she would live.

He’s been there for me through so many scary times.

And then there was my husband’s cancer journey. I don’t know how people go through that without Jesus. He was there every step of the way … chemo … radiation … surgeries … and then the decision to stop all treatment. We were held above the trials of the disease and at peace in God’s love.

My husband no longer lives on this earth. But I do. It’s been a dark walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but I feared no evil. God had made a promise. He would take that walk with me.

My soul is full of gratitude. I am blessed.
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This article has been read 546 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Barbara Culler 
03/14/19
Wow, what a testimony! God has definitely held you through it all!
C D Swanson 
03/14/19
Oh my goodness...Yes...the LORD was with you all along.

Amen and Amen, thanks for sharing this great witness to how amazing the LORD is.

God Bless~
Joanney Uthe 
03/15/19
I like the contrast between poverty and material blessings (sorry you had to experience that.) But even more, I love the comparison between the poverty of material blessings verses the true blessing of knowing Jesus and his presence in your life. Great testimony.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/15/19
This is a powerful testimony. It's amazing how God prepares us for life. If not for the tough beginnings, you might have had a harder time dealing with the scary stuff. It's pretty awesome how God does things like that, as well as many things we likely miss.
For me the ellipses were a tad bit distracting. Usually they signify a trailing off of words or missing words. I think in most cases, a comma might have been a better choice. If you do use them though, remember that there's no space at beginning and end...instead it should look like that. Punctuation is a tiny thing though. The heart of your story touched my heart, and it made me think about my many blessings. You nailed the topic and delivered a strong Christian message.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
03/15/19
What a beautiful way you showed Jesus' presence with you and the wealth of blessing He has brought despite difficult times.
Laurie Glass 
03/15/19
Thanks for sharing this and reminding us that God walks with us in all the difficult times. There are silver linings even in the darker and scarier times in life.
Betty Castleberry
03/16/19
What trials you have been through, and yet you know what real blessings are. If I was a judge, I would give this high marks, especially for the Christian testimony aspects. Nicely done.
Allison Egley 
03/16/19
This is good. It's tough sometimes to see God in the hard times, but it's clear He's made His presence known to you in the good and the bad times.
Marlene Custer 
03/17/19
It truly is a blessing that you can have such a positive outlook in spite of the pain.
Karlene Jacobsen 
03/19/19
This is such a touching, heartfelt testament to the goodness of God. How He has blessed you and given you hope for the future. Great writing. <3
Corinne Smelker 
03/20/19
I do not have words. That was very moving. You are, indeed, blessed.
Bonnie Kronberger 
03/21/19
This was such a well written piece from beginning to end. It certainly seems the more trials we have the greater blessing we receive when we seek our Lord and Savior throughout the journey. Nice piece.
Joy Bach 
04/15/19
I've been asked if I have written about my life. No book yet. If you want to read more about my journey, I allude to it a lot in my blog. I have a few books in my head. One I plan to call "Joy in the Journey" and tell about my husband's cancer journey. I feel there are those who need to hear that you can have joy and peace as you travel that path. And then the one I've wanted to write for years: "Necessary Journeys". That would be my memoir. Thanks for all the encouragement I've received from Faithwriters. www.joy-lifemoments.blogspot.com