People Who Know Jesus – Part 4
I started to call my trials “tools.” They were God-given tools that were always there for me to use to help others. That is why I am sharing my story now.
Read Time: 3 minutes
This sister did not know Jesus all her life, but I believe Jesus knew her. We read in the letter to the Ephesians:
This story, written by a lovely sister who is a “gem” in Jesus’s crown, brings Paul’s point to life. She has given this story of her trials a title she calls “My Toolbox.”
My Toolbox
Trials give us tools we can use to help others deal with troubles we have managed to overcome. When I was nine, I was hit by a car and almost lost a leg. At the age of twelve, I was sexually molested. By the age of nineteen, I had a baby that I had to give up for adoption. At the age of twenty-one, I married a man who had alcoholism. I later became a single mom of two children.
When I was about thirty, my aunt told me one day, “Have you ever thought of going to church?” I went to church with her, and at that time, I found God. Until now, I did not know that God was with me, but looking back, I now know He was with me through all my trials. Somehow, He managed to put people in my life who were going through the same things I had experienced, and I could pull from a previous trial to help them through. I started to call my trials “tools.” They were God-given tools that were always there for me to use to help others. That is why I am sharing my story now.
I was baptized, but the trials did not stop. One day, my daughter and I drove home on a road we did not know and ended up in an accident. We came to a stop sign on a crossroad that I did not see because I was blinded by the sun. As we went over the embankment, a very large tree was in the middle of our path. We were heading straight for it. I told my daughter, “Hang on. We will hit that tree.” Somehow, we missed the tree and ended up six feet down, running along a fence line until we stopped. I leaned over to my daughter and said, “God moved the car for us!” And we both prayed.
I have had a lot more trials in my lifetime, including the loss of a grandson at the age of twenty-four to a tragic accident and the loss of a great-grandson at the age of five months. I have tried to keep my grandchildren safe and loved through the many trials they have had. I have gone through two heart operations that should have taken my life, but still, God has decided to keep me here. Through each trial, God has strengthened my faith and helped me to help others with the tools I have gained. As always, my prayer is, “Thank you, God, for all that is and will be. Give me strength to go through whatever lies ahead and help me to help those you put before me and share your love and compassion.”
I hope that this helps someone in some small way.
This is an amazing, heartfelt prayer. This dear sister’s faith has kept her here for us so we can learn and be comforted by her story.
Rick Hill,
Picton Ecclesia, ON