I am thankful today that God is in the business of bringing
Heaven to earth. He is continually working behind-the-scenes for our benefit; to make this earthly existence more exactly match the life He originally intended.
Our days and nights are peppered with heavenly interventions that make order out of the chaos, and
give meaning to the seemingly senseless.
He somehow puts the impossible puzzle pieces of our lives together to create a beautiful work of art.
Author and Inspirational Speaker Rolanda Pyle shares a
heartwarming true life story of how God turned her childhood disappointments
into blessings beyond her imagination:
The
“All Things” Basket
“And we know that all
things work together for good to those who love the Lord, to those who are
the called according to His purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
This scripture has significant value to me because I learned
through my life that even when we can’t see it, even when we can’t feel it, God
is working it out. I’ve learned to put
things I can’t understand into my “all things” basket.
When I was a little girl, I was raised by my father and his
mother. My paternal grandmother stepped in to help my father with his three
children. She was the nurturer while my father was the provider and
disciplinarian.
I remember crying many days, wondering why I couldn’t have a
mother in the home like all of my friends. I remember many times being
embarrassed when my grandmother walked me to public school and my classmates asked,
“Where is your mother? Why does your grandmother bring you to school?” It
wasn’t until years after my grandmother passed that I really appreciated her
sacrifice. I am grateful to her and to my father for all they did for me as a
child.
Growing up, I somehow thought being cared for by my
grandmother was one of the worst things that could have happened. It was not
natural. It was not the way it was supposed to be. Little did I know that many
years down the road, what I thought was the worst thing in my life would turn
out to be the best thing in my life.
After graduating from high school, I went on to college,
knowing that the profession I wanted was to help people. My career took me down
many paths from working in foster care to preventive services where I would
help families at risk of losing their children to the system. I assumed the
responsibility of recruiting and training seniors to become role models for
at-risk families. I loved this job because I got to work with both seniors and
children. Years later, one of my friends who knew of my work with seniors,
offered me a job at his place of employment -- an agency that had just received
funds to start a program for grandparents raising their grandchildren.
The program grew, and eventually I was asked by the city to
come and head their Grandparent Resource Center at the Department for the
Aging. So now, I help grandparent caregivers across the city. This program has
grown to become a national model. I have won many awards and been asked to
speak across the country at conferences.
How did I know about grandparents raising their
grandchildren? Where did I get this passion to help and assist these families?
How do I know what they feel and what they need? Why has this become my mission
in life? I lived it.
Years ago, when I thought it was the worst thing in my life,
I did not know that the Lord was working it “all things” out for my
good. I had no clue that there was a plan being worked out for my life. I never
dreamed that I would stand before Commissioners, Mayors and prominent folks
to let them know the needs and services of grandparents. I never thought that I
would be interviewed on radio or television, or have newspaper articles written
about me. It was not a desire of my heart nor was it anything I imagined.
What I thought was the worst thing, turned out to be a good
thing because, “all things work together for good to those who love the Lord
and are called according to His purpose.”
And that is why I have learned to put everything in the “all
things” basket.
~ Rolanda Pyle ©
Rolanda T. Pyle is a certified social worker, and the Author of
two books:
~FINALLY, a collection of inspirational poetry
~Beneath His Everlasting Wings, a devotional
To learn more about Rolanda, visit:
www.rorosrainbowcommunications.com
http://www.facebook.com/rorosrainbow
.
“You have done many
miraculous things, oh Lord my God. You have made many wonderful plans for us.”
~ Psalm 40:5
“The pathway, which lies before me, only the
Heavenly Father knows. I will trust in Him to unfold the moments and the
mystery, just as He unfolds the rose.”
~ Author
Unknown
No matter how difficult your current situation
may you find rest in knowing He is working on your behalf
Talk to you soon,
Connie
