Forgiveness and Healings

As my family has been going through a time of healing, I have prayed about what to do with this blog.  After my last serious post and the attacks I received in comments (which I did not publish, it is my choice after all), and after all the efforts we have made to try to regain some semblance of privacy and safety for ourselves and our children, I have seriously thought and prayed about what to do with this blog.  I have considered shutting it down and starting a new one that certain family members and former friends do not know the web address for.

I have decided not to do this.  I started this blog a few years back to share what God is doing in my life, to share how we have seen His blessings come to pass in our lives as we have surrendered more of our desires and plans to Him.  It has been a place of vulnerability and healing for me, as well as a place of sharing.  This is MY blog, and I have absolutely nothing to hide.  Those who believe otherwise are entitled to their beliefs.  It's a free world, you can believe whatever you choose to believe about me and my husband and children.  Honestly, it's not really any of my concern, and it does not affect our lives in any way.

Here is what I have learned, and continue to learn, and what has been reaffirmed in my life.  I need to forgive.  I have done so.  The deep hurt and woundedness that not only I have experienced at the hands of others, but my children as well, have been forgiven.  We are healing and we are moving on.  But forgiveness does not mean that I have to let poisonous people into my life, or my children's.  Forgiveness means I am willing to let God continue to change my heart and work in me, and it means that I will let Him be my avenger.  It does not mean that all is as it was before.  Forgiveness means we can still set boundaries.

We are okay, all of us, and we will continue to be okay.  God has opened doors and made ways for us to have a fresh start, to move forward in what He has for our family.  He has orchestrated our healing and taken the broken pieces of our lives, and rebuilt them into something new.  Those who have hurt us and have intended harm for us no longer have any hold on our lives.  I will continue to speak truth, and I will continue to share the incredible blessings God has for our family.  I will continue to share my life and what He is doing.  I will continue to share my struggles and what He is teaching me in them.

This is my blog, and I have a choice to continue to share what I choose to share.  You also have a choice.  If you do not like what I write, if you do not like what my husband and I stand for, if you do not agree with what I say, you have a choice to not read my blog.  If you do read it, you have a choice to respond with whatever words you choose, whether they be words of encouragement or words of condemnation.  You can even try to stir trouble with others whom this blog has nothing to do with and attack my personal friendships with others whom you do not like.  But, again, I also have a choice.  I will choose to not post your comments, and I will choose to not respond.  I you are reading this and you have done this in the recent past, you know who you are.  You have no power over me or my children.

I choose to walk forward in forgiveness, peace, openness, truthfulness, and joy in the blessings He has given us.  I choose life.