the story 1

I wrote the following paragraph in my October 13 post, “Back from the Brink”:   

“A year ago today, I was at the lowest point of my entire life.  The days were dark, and I felt like there was a weight on my heart that would crush me.  I had questions about my physical and emotional health, my future in ministry, and my future, period!   From a human perspective, there was no way forward.  I cried out to the Lord like I never had before; and, often, I just cried.  I was spent, with no strength of my own to offer.  My tank was empty and my well was dry.”

I remained in that depth of despair until one year ago tomorrow.  That was the day when God began to reveal His answers to my prayers and when light began to appear at the end of the tunnel.  It was the day that hopelessness lost its suffixes!  I still had a long way to go emotionally, and I still had absolutely no idea what I was going to be doing in the coming months and years, but I knew that I was going to have my family along for the journey.  November 6, 2008 was the third-happiest day of my life, after the day of my baptism into Christ and the day that Kim and I were married!  Through tears and prayer, Kim and I knew that we were going to be okay!

For nearly 22 years, Kim and I have shared our lives together as husband and wife.  I can’t fully describe the blessing that she has been to my life.  She is a natural protector, nurturer, and encourager.  She is a champion for the underdog, the marginalized, and the disenfranchised.  From the day that Hannah was born, I knew that Kim was intended for motherhood.  When our lives were additionally blessed by the birth of Coleman, she met his diagnoses of Dubowitz Syndrome and autism with unyielding resolve and determination that have resulted in countless open doors and opportunities that he never would have enjoyed without her tireless, tenacious advocacy.  She has done all of this while suffering long bouts of fatigue and frequent pain associated with lupus.  She has challenged and encouraged me in my ministry, and has sometimes had to offer loving rebuke and correction.  I could not and would not have continued in full-time ministry without her blessing and support.

During those “dark days,” Brandi Carlile’s song, The Story, really connected with my heart.  I think it was a combination of the emotion of the lyrics and the passion of Carlile’s voice.  The refrain states, “But these stories don’t mean anything, when you’ve got no one to tell them to.  It’s true; I was made for you.”

I love you, Kim!