Thursday, July 14, 2016

Reconciliation and Restoration-Lessons Learned
By Jeannine Sawall

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

Almost six years have passed since I received the letter from my bio-dad, Larry, and the five-year anniversary of my mom’s passing is quickly approaching. As I reflect back, God has taught me many things:

1)     God’s timing is always perfect. Larry’s letter was sent at a time I would be open to his becoming a part of my life, and he was eager to become a part of my and my family’s lives.

2)     God is always working to perfect us and have us reflect His Son’s image. The Lord knew my mom was going home 16 days after she and Larry reconnected. He allowed her to work through the conflicting, painful emotions that Larry’s re-entry into our lives had brought to the surface. He gave her peace on THIS side of heaven before she entered into eternal peace. That was a gift for her, for Larry and for me.

3)     God is never done writing our story and it’s never what we think it’s going to be. After 41 years, I never expected to hear from my bio-dad, let alone form a loving relationship with him. Yet, he has become part of my extended family. What a blessing to “feel at home” with my father.

4)     God’s ultimate story is shared when we allow ourselves to be used by Him. Larry often brings up faith. He says he “sees” the difference that was in my mom and is in me and wants faith like that, but he felt he let us down and struggled with unconditional acceptance. How could we just let him into our lives, “no strings attached”? It has opened up many opportunities to share the gospel with him and let him know the only way we were able to offer unconditional love and acceptance was because of the unconditional love and acceptance given to us through Christ’s death and resurrection.

God grieves brokenness. However, our God is a God of healing!! Out of the pain and heartache of a broken relationship, an unplanned pregnancy and an absentee father, God has brought beauty from ashes. He has reconciled relationships and restored hearts. While my mother/daughter story is complete, He continues to write my father/daughter story. It’s not what I would have planned or expected, but God is faithful and good and He is the source of all blessings…even unexpected ones that show up as a letter in God’s perfect timing. 

GOING DEEPER:
1.      Where in your life do you need to acknowledge lessons God has taught you?
2.      With whom do you need to share the gospel today?

FURTHER READING:


Jeannine is a wife and mother of four great boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in several behind-the-scenes ministries at Oakwood and has a heart for those who are grieving.