So we started the Journey to Freedom yesterday. The first lesson was about who our Heavenly Father really is. It talked about how we will relate to God like we relate to our earthly father. It asked us to go through a list of about 25 different characteristics of our fathers, kind, distant, rough, loving, etc. so for me it was a little challenging. I did it first thinking of my biological father and I only checked three things, then I went through thinking of my Grandpa and I checked about half of them. This made me think of a few things. One I am very thankful to my Heavenly Father for giving my grandfather here on earth but also that my mother had such a good relationship with him that he was part of my life. We don’t know how far excepting someone and loving them in spite of their sin will go. For me it was a loving father figure who accepted a mistake his daughter made and decided to actively involve himself in the result. It points to the power of God to bring good out of what some might think to be the beginning of the end. I am sure we can all think of someone that has gone through a similar experience with a much different result. It challenges me to see the sinner and not the sin.
Wow, this picture was a while ago wasn’t it! I have always been so thankful to God that your Grandparents were such remarkable people that loved God with their whole hearts. Because of them…we had a home…I saw Christ exemplified in their lives…I came to know a loving God! But, Arley, You were not a mistake! You are and were part of a masterplan that God put in motion for reason’s that we continue to discover every day. I know that the circumstances were not part of God’s original plan for my life but as the master potter that He is, He took the clay of my life and reformed it to be something beautiful in His sight. I praise God that He stepped in and healed my broken heart and gave me the widsom to parent this wonderful, beautiful child that was now my responsibility. Your Grandparents loved you very much and because of that love – took a very active role in your life. They also recieved a lot of love back from you and you gave them much joy as well! You are a remarkable man Arley! I love you very much!
Well said AJ!
Well said and great pics! We are looking forward to all that God is doing in your lives! I’m not a Marine but still: God defines Semper Fidelis.