It had been almost a year since the divorce.God had allowed us time to “lick our wounds” for a season and now we were in Nashville, the place I believed God had brought us. I had high expectations and just knew now I would see the kids flourish and I would step into what I was supposed to do! Several months passed and NOTHING was going according to plan. There were constant delays in getting into our home, the kids were feeling the effects of all we had been through, and I was facing reality, I wasn’t seeing the promise yet!                                       I remember the very moment HE nudged open the window of hope for me… I had just dropped off the children at school and returned to the room I shared with my daughter, in the home of my dear friend. It was quiet and I was all alone. I began to weep and cry and tell God how I truly felt! I moved there on His prompting, the kids were in their own battle emotionally, and I was tired of the delays and was feeling the pressure of having to lead these children! After a moment of “pity party crying”, I heard this “Thank You”. Thank you? For what? I just sounded like a blubbering fool and God says thank you? As I lay there on the bed listening to what  would come next He says, “Tell Me thank you”.                     I immediately grabbed pen and paper and begin to write. Effortlessly the words came billowing out, and my closure song was written,” Thank You” . The chorus is this………..

Thank you for the times that we shared.            Thank you for the moments you cared.                 Thank you for the life that we had,                      Thank you for all of the good, and the bad.

God just wanted me to thank Him for all things that led me to that place. There were triumphs, disappointments, emotional highs and lows, and even shattered dreams. God had used them all to show me it had all worked together to set me where I was supposed to be. As I wept with each word written for that song, I began to feel the release of what I had been carrying for years! The wounds were no longer the weapon used to destroy me but they were becoming the scars that would strengthen me.                               Many of you may find yourself in a very similar place or circumstance I was in. Life didn’t turn out the way you thought it would. You have found yourself in a place in your life that doesn’t look like the original picture you had in your mind. Things happen, people change, and trials are promised to those of us who follow Christ. The good news is , God’s grace and mercy follows us and cover us through everything we encounter. If we don’t step outside of our “victim fog” and truly THANK HiM for the journey thus far, we will miss the beauty of the lessons  and strength we gain through everything!                Just taking the time and writing that song, I could see where I had come from and where I  had been given the tools and wisdom to go forward. From my pain and trial, a beautiful song was written, and when people hear it, healing begins for those who are in such a place.                                                               There are people waiting to hear from you! What you are experiencing, or have experienced in your life is to help and encourage those you meet along your journey. We are Gods living examples of hope and truth in this dark and hopeless world. We must see ourselves as HIS representatives and spokespersons for HIS love and truth. I encourage you to start “thanking Him” for where you are and ask Him to show you what you have gained and learned from all of the triumphs and disappointments. It is then you will see exactly how much HE loves you!