When Our Pain Speaks to Others

Most of you who know my story know that 2020 was NOT a great year for me personally. 104 days in the hospital 65 in ICU and then the pandemic directly hit our family. We've survived but even better than that God has turned things for good.
"All things work together for good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes."
Romans 8:28

2021 has been better in many respects. Miraculously, I have had the pump that was placed in my heart last year completely decommissioned. I'm getting stronger by the day and have one last wound VAC to get rid of and then I'll be machine free. That's quite amazing considering I left the hospital with four machines last year after 13 operations. Three of the machines were external and one was internal. 

I'm always saying to others that God uses our suffering and then comforts us so that we might bring the same comfort to others. 

"... We comfort those in need with the same comfort that we have received from the Lord."
2 Corinthians 1:3-6

Not only are we given the ability to comfort others but we are given the "platform" to speak into other people's lives based on what they have seen us go through. 

This week a documentary film crew arrives and will be following our lives for 10 days to depict or story for national publication (USA Today). We pray that good comes from this and I know that we would never have had the opportunity to share about the goodness of God without having gone through this. 

The film crew will follow our daily activities including church services, baseball games graduation parties. It's definitely going to be interesting. Another organization is interested in doing the story as well. I've been asked many times in my life are we willing to even suffer in order that others might be blessed. Maybe this is what's required of me. 

I'm thankful for the opportunities and trust that God will lead us through each step of the way. May God use all of our trials for His glory.

"And the God of all Grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

We will keep you posted as to when the documentary short or long will be available.