The Broken Road

This past weekend Dan and I traveled across the state to attend the Celebration of Life service for my stepfather. 

Both Dan and my brother-in-law were asked to read some scripture, say a few words and pray. Then others shared their memories. My stepfather was a kind man who impacted many lives. It was a special time of remembrance and he will be missed.

I was especially thankful that I got to spend some time with my sister and brother-in-law. We only see each other once a year or so and it was wonderful to catch up.

While it was a wonderful weekend, it was also difficult as we all processed the hard road of having broken families. My sister and I felt like we were intruding on his children's grief  and not feeling like we really belonged there. Our stepdad came into our lives when we were older, but he treated us as if we were his own and we loved him. But I'm certain his children have also struggled through the years from having a dad who divorced their mom and married ours. While my mom and stepdad both came to know the Lord and had deep regret and sadness about how their relationship started, it doesn't take away the effects of choices made years ago. 

My sister and I had some great conversations this weekend  about our upbringing and one of the things we both have struggled with is the feeling like we've been dealt a difficult hand in life. Our upbringing was not pleasant. Life is tricky to navigate, but then when you add terrible family patterns to the mix it makes it even more difficult to overcome learned behaviors. I feel like I'm constantly battling those patterns that were modeled.

But despite our broken road, I am thankful that we married men who love the Lord and have loved us well. I am thankful that we both have worked on changing the family sin patterns in our lives. I'm thankful that both my sister and me have good relationships with our own children and have worked hard to keep the lines of communication open with them. I am thankful of all the men my mother could have chosen that she chose a man who was kind to us and loved us as if we were his own. I am thankful that one of the positive things that has come out of this whole situation was getting to know his children who are wonderful people.

Yes, we are all the victims of choices made by others, but we are able to work through our emotions and come to similar conclusions. We are able to see the blessings that have come out of our particular circumstances. 

We have a broken road, but God has worked in our lives despite the things that happened to us as children and young adults. We have a broken road, but God continues to work.