As our NYGO team has taken time to write our their "salvation" and "growth" stories, I've been reminded that we live in a time where the broken family is almost the norm. Many students' stories contained statement like...
- My growth story began in April of my 5th grade year. First off, I better let you know that my parents got divorced when I was 5 years old.
- Just recently i have been struggling with my parents divorce. This is kida weird considering my parents have been divorced for over 10 years.
- When I was about nine years old my dad left my mom for another woman, this affected me because at times I wondered why God would do this to my mother.
- About three years ago, I began going through something I never thought I would, a broken marriage.
- My dad explained to me that he had been seeing someone and that he and my mom were going to be separating.
The beauty of these heartbreaking statements is that they are all a part of stories where these experiences have served as opportunities for those sharing to grow in faith and focus on Christ.
But, what happens when a dad gets it right? I want to you to meet a dad who did. Hannah Warstler will be a Senior at Wawasee High School. Here is an excerpt from the tail end of her growth story. May you find in encouraging and challenging at the same time...
...A few weeks later, I was at another camp with my youth group. We were in the woods for a week cooking our own meals and sleeping outdoors. During that time I was able to use a lot of skills my Dad had taught me. Whenever I was complimented, I would give credit to my dad (“Learned from the best!” I’d say). Many times during that week I found myself longing for his fatherly embrace. About halfway through the week I was doing morning devotions (praying and reading my Bible) when I realized: “What if God was my Dad like my earthly father is?” What if I spend that much time to be so close to God, and miss him dearly when I don’t meet with him for a couple of days? I have a loving, godly dad here on earth. God is certainly more loving than my earthly dad. I understood how loving and fatherly God is, and realized I could have such a Father-daughter relationship with him. God had shown me another side of His character—
But, what happens when a dad gets it right? I want to you to meet a dad who did. Hannah Warstler will be a Senior at Wawasee High School. Here is an excerpt from the tail end of her growth story. May you find in encouraging and challenging at the same time...
...A few weeks later, I was at another camp with my youth group. We were in the woods for a week cooking our own meals and sleeping outdoors. During that time I was able to use a lot of skills my Dad had taught me. Whenever I was complimented, I would give credit to my dad (“Learned from the best!” I’d say). Many times during that week I found myself longing for his fatherly embrace. About halfway through the week I was doing morning devotions (praying and reading my Bible) when I realized: “What if God was my Dad like my earthly father is?” What if I spend that much time to be so close to God, and miss him dearly when I don’t meet with him for a couple of days? I have a loving, godly dad here on earth. God is certainly more loving than my earthly dad. I understood how loving and fatherly God is, and realized I could have such a Father-daughter relationship with him. God had shown me another side of His character—
1 comment:
WoW!!
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