I've often wondered, "Why, Lord? Why must she be so difficult? I love her, Lord, but she often makes it so difficult to like her." Does she bring out the worst in me? Absolutely. There has never been anyone is my life who brings out the worst in me like she does. Do I like who I become in that "ugly place?" Absolutely not.
Yet even in this, there is a blessing. God is using this 15-year-old child to refine me, and to mold me into His image. The tests used to come more frequently, but now they're fewer and far between . . . yet they still come. I'm still in the refining process. I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be.
The following quote is from the video posted below, and the last line is one that truly strikes a cord with me. We will never be more like our father in heaven than when we love the unlovely. Amen?
"Sometimes, the reason why that person has been assigned to our life, is to bring out the very worst in us, so that God can bring out the worst in us. Turns up the heat, and everything toxic inside comes to the surface. Not so it'll show, so it can be skimmed off. That is a refiner's fire. Thorny. Thorn in the flesh . . .perhaps there to humble us. Cause that's the very person that brings out somebody in us that we don't like. We will never be more like our father in heaven than when we love the unlovely." ~Beth Moore
If you have a "thorny" in your life, I pray that you're able to see the blessing, and embrace what God is doing in your life to refine you and mold you into His image.
Sweet Blessings,
Michelle
Michelle, that was so powerful - what Beth Moore said and what you shared here. Truly, it made me cry and spoke to my heart. I'm so sorry for all you're facing with your daughter right now. I would never down-play your hurt and say it's just the age and she'll grow out of it. She is very blessed to have a mom that loves her, prays for her, and through the grace of God, forgives her. Her eyes will be opened to the rare gift of having such a mother someday. Until then, may His grace be sufficient for you and may His mercy follow your daughter. The Lord always turns our pain into gladness, our heaviness into joy, and our ashes into beauty. One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 8:28 because ALL things - the good, the bad, the pain, and the joy - are all being worked together by the God of Love for our good. Rest in that promise and the One who made it. The impossible is what the best testimonies are made from.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, dear friend, and may He touch your heart in a special way today :)
Hugs,
Amanda
Thank you so much, Amanda! I'm truly blessed by your kind words, encouragement, and friendship -- it means more to me than you know. (((HUGS))) And I love that you mention Romans 8:28, it's the verse I also thought of while writing this post.
DeleteBy the way, I tried replying back to you on Laura's blog, but I kept getting an error message. Will have to try again tomorrow. : )
Sweet Blessings,
Michelle
I tried to leave a comment on Laura's blog yesterday and got the same error message :( Thought it was me but it's probably just the website. Hopefully it fixes itself!
DeleteTalk to you soon, my friend :)
Amanda
Oh, I know this quote...:)
ReplyDeleteBeing a mom is one of the hardest things I've even done! Okay, maybe the hardest...definitely right up there with learning how to be a wife (I, um, tend to be a tad stubborn!)...loving others, that's ALL God in us, isn't it?
I was thinking I posted this quote here before, but I can't find it. It's one of my FAVORITE quotes!
ReplyDeleteI agree that being a wife and mom are the hardest things . . . ever! But oh so rewarding!
"loving others, that's ALL God in us, isn't it?" -- Amen! I couldn't agree more! : )
Wow, that clip was so powerful and true, Michelle-thanks for sharing what's going on with you as well as those words from Beth Moore.
ReplyDeleteMy sister has been going through some rough patches with someone in her life and I think this would really encourage her to listen to. I remember going through a rebellious/mouthy/awkward phase in my teens and just wanting to lash out at those around me-even the ones who meant to be kind toward me. It took me a while to come out of my miserable shell and open up to friends and family. I wasn't comfortable with myself and was still holding in anger from my mom passing away, but unfortunately took my feelings out on others. Ironically, it seems that we end up lashing out at the ones we're closest to/love the most. Probably because we feel safest with them and know they will always love us unconditionally. Doesn't make the situation any easier though!
I'll definitely keep you and your daughter in my prayers, that you can find some peaceful resolution to your conflicts. I so admire your willingness to open up and share with us, Michelle. I know it's not easy but I needed to hear this, so thank you.
Blessings to you my friend! :)
Thank you for sharing here, Christina, and for your words of encouragement and prayers. I truly appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about feeling the safest with the people that you're closest to and love the most. That "thorny" exterior is one that my daughter reserves for her immediate family. Lucky us! ;-)
What I'm seeing more and more, is that perhaps it's not so much about her and her behavior, but me. I will never be able to control someone else's behavior, but I sure can choose how I respond to them -- responding how Jesus would respond -- gentle, meek, and mild. This is SO unlike my natural tendencies, but I love how God can use people in our life to bring about changes that bring bring Him glory.
Blessings to you, Christina! Thanks again! : )