Take it from a Crazy Woman!

I think we all have had times in our lives when, for whatever reason, we were struggling and we didn't think we could get through. Hearts are heavy, outlook seems bleak and no matter how comforting our friends and family may be at the time, we felt as if there was no way out. How do you deal with situations like this? Do you run and hide? Do you meet them head on? Do you seek help or even just cry out to the Lord? Dealing with stresses can be overwhelming and without someone to turn to, you can hit a wall of depression and sadness that you may not be able to recover from.

Gosh, how depressing this all seems! I share this though to say, We have all been there! There is no one, not one person that has had a smooth road. No one person that has not had some type of pain in their lives that they didn't think they could get out of. Some people are better at hiding their pain. Some people refuse to face their trials and would rather ignore them hoping that, in time, it will all go away on it's own. I for one, am guilty of them all. It took me years to learn how to not let my emotions control my decision's and find a clearer and more perfect way in facing my worries. Not to say that I don't have worries. I still cry, I still wonder but I can honestly say that my problems and my stress have been lessened because I have been able to rely on the one person in my life that I know will always be there to get me through. I like to call him Lord. He's my best friend. He's my comforter and the one 'person' I know I can turn to that will not steer me wrong.

I can't begin to tell you, how many times, in the past, my sweet husband had found me balled up in a corner, crying because I could not see how our lives were ever going to be right again. You see, after my mother's passing, so many changes took place and most, were unexpected changes that literally changed our world. At one point I just knew that God had decided that loosing one parent wasn't enough so he took another, though not by death, to teach me some sort of lesson.  I spent years trying to figure out just what that lesson was. So many years wasted being angry over circumstances that I had no control over and so many years not seeing that, while I may have been hurting, the Lord was only trying to get my attention. He was trying to show me that, the lessons my amazing mother had taught me so many years ago about His Love, His Comfort and His ability to carry you through when you knew you couldn't go on any more, were absolutely true. Not that things got better but they got easier.

In the last 6 years, my sweet Craig became ill. Due to his illness, he was no longer able to work. No work, no health insurance. No health insurance, treatments were paid for out of pocket. In time, we lost our home, our vehicles, our savings, most of our possessions but we never lost hope. It was the one thing that we could hold on to. Had we not had that hope in the Lord, I don't think we would be where we are today. Don't get me wrong, things are not any easier today. I have seen my husband go from this physically strong man to someone who has to rely on others for help. That, has been the toughest for me and also for him. Craig only received his diagnosis within the last few months (Which now means he can finally get the treatment he needs and deserves and also, he will now be eligible for money that he put into the system for so many years). But still, the belief that the Lord has a plan and we know that He wants nothing but the best for us, is what sees us through.  Once we put our trust in Him. Once we handed control over to Him. Once we learned that He had our best interest at heart and there was nothing we could do that was going to be better than what God was doing, life became so much easier to deal with. Let me also say that while Craig and I have always had a beautiful marriage, what we have been through, has made our marriage even stronger. I can't imagine my life without Craig.

Everyday there is a blessing. Whether it be a gift or a phone call from a friend that wants us to know that they are thinking of us and love us or a blessing through an innocent conversation with a stranger that turns your heart around. I can't imagine living any other way. Gifts of love, through the Lord Jesus Christ are awe inspiring so much so that my heart is filled with boundless joy. Yes, I still avoid answering the phone as to not have to deal with a bill collector, LOL, and I do get discouraged but because I know that God is in control, I know that the days of my husband finding me balled up in a corner crying, are over. Now, Craig finds me, going outside my comfort zone, sharing, volunteering and hopefully giving back for all that has been given to us.

OK, so you're sitting there thinking...Does this crazy person have a point to this blog or is she just rambling. Well, the answer is Yes and Yes. My point would be, if you feel you are sinking. If you feel that there is no hope. If you don't feel as if there is anyone you can turn to. Please, take the word of a completely emotional crazy woman...There is hope. There is comfort. There is someone who wants to see you through. His name is Jesus Christ. He has already given up His life for you. Now, you only need to give Your Life to Him.