My Journey
There was a time some years ago when I had no will to go on due to ongoing tragedies that seemed to ambush my life unexpectedly.
In 2001, I lost my spouse to, Cardiomyopathy, a very progressive form of heart disease. A new reality emerged of suddenly being forced into single parenthood with three children, limited finances and no life insurance only made this journey more laborious. I remember my spouse’s last moments vividly. Most of his organs had begun to shut down. After hours of surgery, the doctor broke the unwelcome news with six resounding words… “There’s nothing else we can do.” After much prayer and thought, I decided to no longer allow him to suffer but to take him off the respirator and go home to Jesus. I kissed him on the forehead and whispered “I love you.” in his ears and watched him take his last breath.
One year later, my precious grandmother who helped raise me died from diabetes complications. I remember getting the call saying she wasn’t doing well and I took a plane home to St. Louis, MO to see her. She was in a drug induced coma and wasn’t really responding to anything or anyone. There she was lying unresponsive and I was speechless. I recalled that one of her favorite songs was an old hymn entitled “Jesus, There’s Something About That Name.” I began to sing that in her ear and she actually began responding. She knew I was there! After a couple of days of visiting and praying with my family, I was confident that she would be just fine so I fly back to Minneapolis. Shortly after, I got an unwanted phone call saying she had passed.
In 2005, my Aunt Vanessa was diagnosed with breast cancer. My Aunt was very special to me and I held her in the highest regard. It wasn’t unusual for me to talk to her every single day. The last couple of years of her life, she began calling me in the wee hours of the morning to pray with her. I didn’t realize God was actually preparing me, through her guidance, for the next level of anointing. During the time she was battling breast cancer, my mother was also diagnosed with the same disease. After three reoccurrences of breast cancer, my Aunt Vanessa passed on June 14, 2007. Her work here on earth was done.
I finally realized that through my distress and sufferings, my faith was being tested only to build endurance and patience so that I could be fully developed lacking nothing. I can’t say that I understand everything that has happened in my life, but I can say that I trust God and I am stronger because of the trials that were set before me.
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. (Amplified)
