By Laura G. a Renegade Widow!
Recently I had the privilege of spending time with a lovely group of ladies I’d not met before. One of them noticed my bracelet, and commented on it, and asked if there was a story behind it. I said, yes, and told them the story. This morning, I woke up and decided to tell The Bracelet Story.
If you’ve followed my blog at all, you know I’m a widow. If this is the first time reading, then, there you have it. I am a widow. I joined the worst club in the world about 3.5 years ago. I don’t tell you that for you to feel sorry for me, or to ask questions, I tell you that for a bit of a back story, and to help you understand that the bracelet isn’t about that part of my story.
I had met him at church in the spring of 2016, – pause – actually, I first saw him in October of 2105 it was a ‘huh’ moment,,, – hit play; and we talked every Sunday, or mostly every Sunday, sometimes one of us wasn’t there, about darn near everything. I mean. everything. We laughed, we joked, we became ‘church friends’. I prayed. I prayed some more. I may have prayed again.
In the fall of 2016, we became more than church friends. I took a chance, and stepped about as far out of my comfort zone as possible, and went out with him. He was right – it seemed. His jam was my jam. Music. Movies. Stuff.
It was amazing, it was fun, it was exciting, it was crazy, it was confusing, confounding, intense, dreamy, head spinning, heart pounding, TEARS FLOWING, plain ol’ nuts. Sweep me off my feet, type of all of the above.
(Here’s my gift to you – don’t let anyone tell you that dating as an adult is an easy walk. IT. IS. NOT.)
We laughed together, we joked together, we were honest with each other, we – well. I’m sure by now you get the picture. He met my #6, and they really clicked. YEA!! ONE DOWN, FIVE TO GO!
And then. It crashed. Hard. Subsequently, I crashed. Harder. The month after the crash was, from my vantage point, harder than the death of my husband.
As I pondered the affect the crash of 2017 had on me, I realized that in my life, two songs represented my feelings. One is Thy Will Be Done. While I may NEVER understand, how my broken heart is a part of HIS plan, my step is ‘thy will be done’. What the Lord has for me, WILL NOT pass by me, as HIS promises are all ‘yes and amen’.
I met a young lady at our local farmer’s market, and she crafted my bracelet for me. Because, you see, according to Phil. 4:6-7, I am to be anxious for nothing, but IN EVERYTHING with fear and supplication, I am to let my request be made known to God, and the PEACE OF GOD will guard my HEART and mind in Christ Jesus. Why? Because at the end of the day, as the three little birds pitch by my doorstep, I’m reminded that every little thing is gonna be alright.
There you have it. My story isn’t over. I wake up every morning and am reminded that step by step The Lord leads me. Your story isn’t over either.
Take every day, Step by Step
Growing in Grace,
Laura G.