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.”
2 Corinthians 5:18 (NIV)
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.
