One more part in a beautiful story

Six years ago if you had asked me if I thought I could ever have a great relationship with my earthly father I would have said "No way." But God in his wonderful grace was saying "Yes, way..." as the years started to go bye.

I remember being in my dorm room at BBC crying my Sophomore year after Summer break and thinking...no determined that I would never go home again, and that I would just leave a bitter man alone to sulk in his bitterness. I was tired of feeling like I was being poisoned by him.

One night as I lay in my bed at school I argued with God. No, it was more like I yelled at him. I couldn't understand why He would constantly make me suffer with the consequences of my parent's sins. I distinctively remember saying to God "Do you know what it's like to constantly be the one to run after someone who acts like they don't want anything to do with you? Do you know what it's like to love someone so much and have them continuously reject you? Do you?" It was as if God said to me that instant "What do you think I do with you and the rest of the world?" Leave it to the Holy Spirit to answer a question with a question.

From that point on I pursued my dad like a predator pursues it's prey. I knew what I needed to do, I knew what God was calling me to do. It wasn't an easy calling and I spent many days wondering if I was even making a difference. As time went by and as many prayers were offered up slowly, and I do mean slowly things began to change. God took a bitter man's heart and began to soften it...he's still softening it now.

Look at those pictures...One of my dad looking so wondefully in love with his little grand-daughter. The other with him patiently and lovingly holding me as I worked through an emotional exhausting evening. I think the last time my dad seriously held me was when my grandmother died.

All this to say...God can take even what feels like the most hopeless situations and change them around for his own glory.

I don't understand, or even get, why God would choose to make a beautiful story out of my life... especially when he has to chase me down everyday...but for some reason he has and continues to do so today.

All I know for sure is...and to quote a U2 song that I love...

"Grace makes beauty out of ugly things."