God's Grace

As many of you know, this past week was a difficult one for the Bloodworth family.  Stewart's mom, Marti, endured brain surgery on Tuesday and the pathology results were not what the family had hoped for as she has been diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma.  However, she is recovering well from the surgery and, in fact, was able to go home this past Saturday!

As all the news was coming in throughout the week, I kept thinking to myself, "Oh Lord, Why Marti?  Marti is a wonderful woman and very faithful to you, Lord - why her?"  And, while, I will never be able to answer that question fully while on this Earth, it did not take the Lord long to bring back to my memory that I sat not so many months ago asking myself, "Why me and my son, Lord?  I try to be faithful; I try to honor you!"  And, then, as those memories flooded me, I was completely at peace with Marti's situation because I have seen God walk with me and our family over the past 30+ months (more like CARRY me)!  And, I know He will do the same now with Marti and her family, myself included!

But we are only human ... and we will always ask, "Why?"  Some people can get angry during these trials, but that's not what He wants to see.  He uses these times of suffering to remind us that we need Him - in all that we do, we need to be dependent on Him!  He doesn't gloat during our times of suffering, that is very true; however, we must not forget that He placed the ultimate suffering on His very own son so that we would not suffer for eternity!  In a really strange way, that makes me so happy!

As many of you know, I was not saved until after college!  In fact, I can remember it so vividly - sitting with Woody Simpson at the J&S Cafeteria on my lunch break when he prayed that prayer with me to ask Jesus to come into my heart.  (Thanks Woody - and Suzette - for all of your support)!  Looking back, I can honestly say that I didn't change one thing at that moment.  I tried to go to church more; I tried to be faithful; I tried to show to everyone that I loved Him - but I wasn't a changed person!  It wasn't until I was faced with the death of my son, that I embraced God and all His love!  I became completely dependent on Him for everything during that time!  And, while He never promises that it will be easy; He does promise that He is with us ALL THE TIME!  He loves us so very much and hurts when we hurt ... but He tasks us with the suffering so that we will look to Him for our answers and give Him the praise ALL THE TIME!

We all know that Marti has a difficult journey ahead, but I know in my heart, that God has hand-picked her because she can show those around her how to be dependent on Him!  We will all be able to watch God work in her life so clearly and she will give Him the glory ALL THE TIME!  He wants to use His children to strengthen the Kingdom and Marti will be a great ambassador for Him!  And, that, my friends, might just be the answer to "Why Marti?"

Love,
Jennifer