“For nothing is impossible with (my) God.” Luke 1:37

On my day off last week 12/19 I spent the morning in the gym and then was headed over to Starbucks to read and do my devos when I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to go the Castleton Mall. I really don’t like the mall and I’m not a huge fan of the Christmas craziness that awaits at the mall. But feeling the strong push I drove the extra 20 minutes out of my way. When I got there I took my stuff in with me and started walking through the mall trying to figure out where in the world I was suppose to read my bible in this craziness! When I got through the mall I ended up at Borders and went to their coffee shop to read and pray, after being there for twenty minutes a woman came and sat at a nearby table weeping loudly. There was no way to ignore the prompting of the Spirit to take her some napkins and then to sit and talk with her.

The first thing that she asked me through her sobs was, “Do you have kids?”

I said no, but I have a mom and maybe I could help her out. She proceeded to tell me that she was recently divorced because her husband cheated on her and that her 18year old daughter was not very nice to her. She had some of the tell tale signs that I had seen before in my life the yellowish skin and red blotchy neck of an alcoholic.

But I wasn’t about to say anything about it until she said, “I’ve been sober for 60 days and my daughter won’t forgive me.”

To that I replied, “my mother has been an alcoholic my whole life and has never admitted to it.” Her eyes seemed to sadden like she realized what I had been through. What she had put her daughter through.

I continued to listen and tell her that it is hard for her daughter to let go of past hurt when she feels her mom may never really get better and fall off the wagon again. Then I encouraged her to not give up or to let this block stumble her, I actually pleaded with her not to start drinking again! I asked her is I could pray for her and she said yes, so right there in Borders we bowed our heads and I prayed that God would help her to continue to heal and for her daughters heart to be softened.

I went back to my table and packed up. Then I walked through the mall with the biggest sense of peace and smile on my face because I now knew why my God had brought me to Castleton Mall on a crazy Christmas shopping day. And I also knew that I needed to let go of some stuff that I as a child of an alcoholic had been holding onto. No hurt or pain can follow me to heaven so why have I let it follow me from my childhood!


T-Rock

Your Story

We all have stories. It’s the news of what God has done in our life. It’s how He has changed us or how He is currently changing us. Sometimes these stories come to us through positive experiences—a new job, an unexpected bonus, or a gift from a friend. Sometimes our stories are the results of a trying time—loss of a loved one, a painful experience with a rebellious child, or reconciliation with a lost friend. God is always working in our lives.

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