Sometimes this ol’ world seems pretty dark…darker than I’ve ever known it to be. It’s been dark before, but it always seems like the worst darkness is the one you’re walking through in the moment. I keep it my life’s mission to shine the Light of God into my little corner of the world. My sphere of influence may be small, but I pray my words are true and if there are those out there who need them, they find them. I pray I can reach people. I pray they find me. I pray.

Sometimes my life seems filled with the mundane matters of life…the everyday busy work that keeps things going. Then I’ll get a message, a nudge, a God wink that someone needs to hear. To hear something they can’t hear by themselves. That’s when I feel deeply connected to the words I’m given to share.

I received a text yesterday from Hubby #1. He’s doing really well after his heart and kidney transplants in the last year. He feels better than he has in a decade. He’s outside, doing things like shoveling two truckloads of mulch onto their landscaping. He’s happy as a clam to get out and LIVE again. There’s still a lot of healing to do yet. The decade of severe illness, as well as the trauma of the transplants themselves, has taken its toll and they both are working to heal the injuries no one but God can see. They have love, they have faith, and they have hope again.

He sent me a text to see about getting together with my brother this summer. They haven’t seen each other in such a long time, he just wanted to check with me to see if there was anything he needed to know before a visit, like stamina, physical status, etc. I was touched that he would make a special trip to see my Bubby. Before Hubby #2 got so sick, he and his wife would drive the five hours to come pick up my brother just to take him out for a meal and spend some time together.

This got me to thinking about the dynamic we have worked hard to nurture. I know this doesn’t work for everyone, and I know there are cases….probably more often than not…where it is healthier to just go your separate ways and that’s that. Even though my marriages weren’t always healthy when we were together, there was enough love there to work hard at creating a loving and supportive friendship that would last over our lifetimes. It was very important to me, not just for us, but for the kids and grandkids.

When I married Mr. FixIt, Mrs. FixIt 1.0 came with the deal as far as I was concerned. I didn’t push, I didn’t have an agenda, there was no timeline. I just knew in my heart, that to get love, you must give love. I dearly love my husband’s first wife. We talk on the phone, sometimes every day, sometimes for an hour or more. We both know we have a mutual respect for our positions in the family, and the kids and grandkids feel that. They never feel like they’re in the middle or that they have to choose. Every time I get off the phone with her, I thank him for bringing her into my life…giving me such a good friend.

I know it could have been a lot different. When my second marriage fell apart, I was broken. I prayed hard that God would heal my family. Of course, my idea was that we would get back together and be one big happy family. Then one day I realized…God DID heal my family. He taught me a way to grow love where hurt used to be. He showed me how to forgive where anger got in the way. He taught me how to share the ones I love with the ones they love. He gave me a family…a healed and whole family that’s more than TWICE the size it was before.

He gave me another chance. Who am I to waste that gift? God kept the light on for me. He’ll keep it on for you, too.

And…so will I.

🩵🔆🩵

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Gratitude Journal 
Today, I am grateful for the extended family God has given me that reaches across the divide of divorce to form a new kind of love and respect for each other.