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January 1st - 7th

A New Year, a new beginning, a new hope….

This is not your typical devotional. I trust you will bear with me as this is a testimony of God’s grace, His omnipotence and timing. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible for our God. The Word promises that: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37 KJV

I once heard the phrase: “God can take our ‘was’ and make it our ‘is’.” He is not constrained by time as we are, and I know this is true because He has done it for me. If you look back over your life, I am sure you will see that He has done the same thing for you. Search your heart. “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalms 34:8 KJV

My mother is 80 years of age – soon to be 81. All my life my “relationship” with her has been strained. To be perfectly honest, there was no relationship for me other than the fact that I was her daughter, and there were times when I even doubted that. All of that came to an end last night! God is so good, incredibly merciful and His timing is perfect. So much had to be worked out in numerous people before the culmination of what transpired yesterday. The bottom line is, my husband gave me my mother for Christmas and God gave me a new beginning, new reason for hope.

As many of you who are reading this, I grew up in a home filled with fear, anger and beatings, as well as mental, physical and sexual abuse. I will not go into the details at this time because I want the focus to be on what God has accomplished. Although my dad was the evil presence in our house, I blamed my mother for not putting an end to the things he did. Suffice it to say that I accused my mother of working nights so she would not have to deal with what was happening to me. I have falsely accused her all these years because I did not know all of the facts. In trying to protect me from additional family horrors that I knew nothing about, my mother kept her silence. There were so many things about her that I did not understand, her attitudes, her quick temper in certain situations, the sense that she wanted to really talk with me but did not know how. Our conversations were very superficial; her response to me was a very quick and harsh “yeah” or else she spoke in riddles and sayings she had heard from someone else. I felt as if she really did not care about what I had to say.

Last night, for the first time in my life, my mother and I had a real conversation – about her, about me, about our family, about the horrors of living with an alcoholic who became violent every time he drank.

After an especially hurtful situation, because of my husband’s love for me, he confronted my mother and opened the door for a true relationship. Mom and I cried, we disagreed, we laughed, we held each other tightly and both of us asked for forgiveness from the other. Words cannot do justice in describing how the Holy Spirit moved. He gave me wisdom and discernment as my mom described her life with my dad and his family – the type of things that stay hidden in the closet – things that no one wants to talk about or admit ever occurred. Things that, unless dealt with, will never be overcome. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32 KJV Often the truth hurts, but our God is a God of a second chance and another and another…. As long as we do not give up, we will be the victor. Galatians 6:9 promises that: “And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

As God ushers in 2006, let each of us search our hearts for relationships that need God’s touch. Let the Lord take your past and use it for your good now. Whether the hurt and pain was caused by a boss, co-worker, friend or family member, there is no pit so deep that God cannot reach us. Let Him give you a new beginning. Walk through the open door of the prison of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, misunderstanding or a wounded relationship. Jesus has opened the door but for whatever reasons we have chosen to remain captive in Satan’s trap. Be free this year, and praise God for His mercies that a new every morning.

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