What if we had a virtual picture book of our life? We could hold it, thumb through it, laugh and smile, be proud of the triumphant parts of our journey. Then, there's those places we go past quickly, we turn the page quickly or we don't even acknowledge them. Friends, I believe these dark forbidden and unwanted places are actually where we can glean so much to move forward in our journey. Believe me, I have not only pages but chapters in my book I'd rather not see. In my quiet time, The Lord has asked to begin peeking at them. I think of being a child when we're so excited because we've drawn a masterpiece for our parents so we bring it for their accolades. Our Father wants to see these hidden works of art just as much. They've helped shape us. Sometimes good, sometimes they've left us a little bent out of shape. So, in my time with Him, I look through the book and pick just one. I hold it up to HIm, and slowly turn away, looking down. He holds it up and looks at it. Then He tenderly touches my chin and lifts my head. He holds me and thanks me for sharing it with Him and He tears it up and says, "You're forgiven and you're not who you were." He asks if I can forgive the other person in the picture, reluctantly I say yes. He promises it'll get easier as time goes by and there's no need to dwell on that picture anymore. He says we can reframe that experience, give it a new name and place the new picture in our memory book. I love this. I can remember that time and look at it through a lens of love and gratefulness instead of shame and anger. I could choose to color this memory with shades of lessons I learned, how I might back into that place and time again, or not at all. Our memory book of life is reflective of our journey, it's who we were, who we are, and who we have yet to become.
"You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth
and girded me with gladness."
Psalm 30:11-12
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