Today is the final day of the Restoration series. Thank you for following me as I have processed truth, emotions, and more truth with you through this blog.
If you’re just joining, you can get caught up here:
The Beginning of Restoration
She Really Answered – Part Two of the Restoration Series
Finally We Meet – Part Three of the Restoration Series
Necessary Memories Exposed – Part Four of the Restoration Series
Saying Goodbye to Denial – Part Five of the Restoration Series
Addiction is just a symptom of a deeper problem.
My dad chose to avoid the deeper problems. It killed him.
I don’t think I really absorbed what I had learned. As a matter of fact, there are moments I am still not sure I have absorbed it. I know God is going to use this truth for bigger things and I just have to continue to trust Him. It’s all a process.
Julie and I continued to talk. We went back and forth from happy memories to sad. We laughed. I think we both wanted to cry, but didn’t.
I sat across from a woman whom I used to hate. When I heard her name I cringed. When I thought of her, my face turned bright red and anger ate away at me. Not that day. There was no anger. There was no resentment. We talked about faith, Jesus, love, anger, sadness, and forgiveness.
“I really want to continue to have a relationship with you,” I said. “I want to ask your forgiveness for anything I’ve ever done to hurt you.”
Her feeling was mutual. Forgiveness was in the air.
One point Jesus! Zero for Satan.
Four hours had passed and we had deeper conversation, filled with more love than we had ever had in our previous time together. It was real. It was straight from the heart. Fear was gone. Safety took its place. God was truly putting pieces of the restoration puzzle together.
It was time for me to go.
Before I left I asked her if I could pray with her. It took me 10 minutes to have the courage enough to do that. She said yes. There we sat, holding hands, putting years of bitterness behind us, as God got the glory for the restoration in our relationship.
“I’ve always loved you,” she said. “I always will.”
“I love you too.”
On the 3 hour journey back home, I was trying to wrap my mind around all that had happened. What started as a simple phone call to say hello turned into a 4 hour truth and forgiveness session. My cup was full. Not only had I left there with a restored friendship, but I left with a new love in my heart for a woman I had shared many years of my life with.
I look forward to the years we will share down the road. The memories. I look forward to her being at my wedding. Taking part in my graduation ceremony from college. Being there when my first book is published.
Today I thank God for heart changes. I thank God for truth, even if it hurts. I thank God for second chances. I thank Him for restoration.
What relationship do you need to start restoring? Comment below…
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Jesus is all about restoration. From the beginning of time it’s been God’s heart to restore man to Him, and what you’ve done with your step-mother is truly being Jesus on earth! Way to go! I’ve enjoyed walking this journey with you! Blessings!
Thank you Beth. I’m glad you have been on this journey with me.
I think forgiveness is one of the hardest and deepest felt processes of healing. I have had such a hard time with it myself. I can only imagine what it has been like for you. I love your testimony to it. I love that by reading this so many will say to themselves, “well, if she could do it. So can I.” This walk we walk, is not done alone. When our strength is not enough, He fills in the gap. What an amazing experience to have a God like that! I am so grateful for Him and for you and your willingness to be “an open book.”
Thanks Laura. If others can learn from it, it was totally worth being open about.
I’m so happy for you. I’ll bet you felt weightless after forgiveness and love took over this relationship (or lack of). God is so good. Thank you for heeding His voice–even though it was hard–and sharing the story.
Thank you. I do feel weightless and full at the same time. Full of peace and love in knowing that following in obedience always pays off.
Sundi Jo ..Haven’t been on face book much and just read all your blogs. Your honesty in your testimonies and truth in your words fill me with longing for a faith as strong as yours. Your blogs bring me hope in a world full of pain. There is too much hurt in this world and too little hope in Jesus. You bring Jesus’ love to your readers and lay it there like an offering for us to take part in. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me.
Deb,
Thank you so much for your encouraging words. They couldn’t have come at a better time. I appreciate it so much.
Words like that make me want to keep doing what I’m doing.
God Bless!