Another season

01.25.05 (9:12 pm)

This is the season for me to say good-bye to friends; so it seems. I have a very good friend who is leaving within the next week, to go and follow her dreams, and that seems to be in Michigan. Why she wants to leave beautiful California and go to arctic Michigan is beyond me, but I will miss her deeply. I have known her for 11 years. Some of those years we had our ups and downs as friendships go. But none the less, she is my best friend and when she leaves, so will part of my heart. But I praise God for the times we had, good and the bad. You know it is a funny story. How God will used the seasons in our lives, to teach us and help us grow, for the things in the future we don’t see, but He does. It was for many years, that I hadn’t seen my father. (earthly one that is). My father decided that he didn’t like the decisions in life that I was making. Like not marrying a Hispanic man, (I am half Mexican). Also for making the decision to leave home at the age of 17, only to go into a foster home. The list goes on. So he disowned me. For many years, I try to reconcile with him, but he had no part of it. Then when I had gotten saved, I prayed to God many a night, to change my father’s heart. But nothing ever changed. I didn’t understand why God wasn’t hearing my prayers, or why my cries went unanswered. I try many attempts to make it work with my father and I, but my father could be a very stubborn man. But I also knew that God can be more stubborn! I also “received a word” that God was going to heal my fathers heart, but one last attempted to try my father to see me, and I was done trying. I told God, no more, I was done. Finished. I said it will have to be up to God to move the stones that man had place in my father’s heart. But little did I know that I had some stones build up around my heart that I had to allow to move. Pride, boastfulness, self-righteousness. Yes I had allowed some bricks to settle around my heart, that I had to allow God to remove, before He could bring my father and me together. It was 6 months before my father’s passing, that he made it known that he wanted to see me. So I went. Not knowing what to expect, but I had laid it all before God. My hurt, my pain, the feeling of abandonment. And it was then that I saw for the first time, this so call giant of my father, a broken man. Some one who used to be prideful, now humble. And out of my father’s mouth, came out… “Christine, can you please forgive me of how I treated you? How I rejected you? I am so sorry, can you every find it in your heart to forgive me of how I treated you? I love you”. I said “yes and that I love him.” It was the first time in a long time that my father had been so clear in his thinking and his talking. And it would be the last time. And I was blessed. It was 6 months later that my father left his earthly body and rose up to his Creator. The bible tells us, to forgive one another, as He has forgiven us. I learn a hard lesson that day, and learn to apply in my everyday walk with God. And yes it is not easy at times, but I know that my Father knows best. So when my friend of 11 years and I had a falling out, and we lost touch with one another, I knew that when I felt the tugging at my heart to find her and to tell her that I love her and forgiven her. God had a plan. And what a wonderful plan. The next 18 months before her move, was a wonderful blessing for the both of us. God allow us to be there for one another, when he knew that we both would need it, when we needed it. To her having a roommate from hell, to me just needing a place to get away, and having her key to her condo to be able to do so. And I would not have done anything different. So now, God has bigger plans for her and I. And I know where she goes; God will continue to bless our relationship. And I looked forward to seeing her again, and hearing what God is doing in her life. Even if that means if I have to go and deal with the snow in order to do it! So tell me my friend, what season does God have you in, and what are you learning from it?