Iron And Clay

We could say that another year of stability and peace has been stolen from our family.

We could say that.

I always imagined for my children, and I know you did too. One beautiful life, one marriage, kids and family gatherings unbroken. I know you and I both wanted different for our children. We wanted what we didn’t have, and others chose to dismantle that dream.

What we have could be called broken. And it was.

There are wounds not only old but ones still being created by the free will of others. In no way are we perfect. However, I will confidently say, from the core of who I am and who you are, we have sacrificially, painfully, desperately, and willfully put our kids first. Always.

And you and me

what we will teach our children is that hardship is iron and they are made of iron too. This will create in them living swords that they can use throughout their lives to defend and protect themselves and others.

Although painful and scary, and at times so lonely for them, these unique battles they have all faced will become the tools they use to build a manifesto for a strong and courageous life.

Their lost time with their parents, their exhaustion from living in two different homes, the emotional weight of adult problems unnecessarily placed on their little shoulders all of it will be redeemed.

Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not soon at all.

But God is moving. His ways are not our ways. He exists outside of time.

So we wait and watch as if they are precious clay pots dropped by careless hands, and we must now surrender it back to the Potter.

And we wait.

Then there’s you and I living proof that when we surrender our broken lives to the One who created us, He can piece us back together. It’s not the same. It’s not untarnished or without blemish. There will be more chips and cracks along the way. But it will always be repaired by the Savior of our souls.

I could say our peace and joy have been stolen from us.

I could say our dream was never fulfilled for us or for our children.

It wouldn’t be the whole truth, though.

I don’t know what God’s plan is for us all. I do know that at the end of the day, my biggest dream is for the girls to feel safe and loved and secure in our hands. I know we give them that.

I have new dreams now. I no longer think of Christmas cookies and cozy fires with the family.

I’ll create those small joys for us. I will love and cherish the moments we share. Those moments will never overshadow the new dream we are building for ourselves and our children though.

A life that glorifies God, even in the bottom of a deep pit.

A life that strengthens our family bond because we had to hold on to each other through every storm.

Most importantly, a life where our children grow up with Jesus as their foundation and the fruits of His Spirit as their substance.

Love – selfless, unconditional care for others.

Joy – a deep, steady gladness that doesn’t depend on circumstances.

Peace – inner calm and trust in God’s control.

Patience – endurance, the ability to wait without anger or frustration.

Kindness – compassion in action; gentleness toward others.

Goodness – moral integrity and doing what is right.

Faithfulness – loyalty, reliability, and steadfast trust in God.

Gentleness – humility, softness of spirit, strength under control.

Self-control – discipline over one’s impulses, thoughts, and actions.

I am living in the beginning of my new dreams unfolding,

A redemption story.

With all my love and admiration for the ones beginning again,
-Trina Meek