Preface: I almost didn’t post this.  I wrote it last week, typing as fast as my fingers would go (which is pretty fast thanks to my 9th grade typing class at Blume Junior High in Wapakoneta, OH – hometown of Neil Armstrong … and I know I just dated myself by saying that 9th grade was part of Junior High when I was in school.  That’s ok, my son’s fiancee told me last week that I only look 38.  I pushed for 32, but she said to be realistic. 😉  I’m ok with 38.)  Anyway, I share more of my story here, which is always scary.  You never really know what people are going to think.  And, as a trying-to-be-reformed people pleaser, it is that much scarier.  I am getting more comfortable sharing my story in person.  I can kind of gauge by looking at someone and seeing their responses whether I should share more or less.  You can’t really do that on the internet.  So, here we go…

There’s not a person alive who hasn’t been touched by some hurt, sadness, or tragedy in this life.  It’s just a part of living in this world.  Life doesn’t always work out like we planned.  Even when we win the battle, it may not look quite like how we thought it would.  Sometimes, we can see that as a failure.  There are still battle scars, even in the biggest victories.  And too often, we can let those scars, those broken places, bring us embarrassment and shame.  But if we bring them before God, He is so faithful to redeem them and use our stories to bring hope and healing to others.  Continue Reading