Separation

Paula’s Story-Part 4

Filled with grief, I left the hospital and made plans to drive to Pennsylvania to pick up Tina. Ken made me promise that I would fight for custody of Tina after his death. Tina was staying at her uncle’s home in Lancaster County so that she could spend time with her mother, Irene. The drive from our home in Suffolk, VA, to Lancaster, PA, would take over six hours. I took my son Wesley with me and left our home at 11:00 pm and arrived at her uncle John’s house by 6 am. I had not slept all night and was exhausted. I woke Tina up and told her that her daddy had gone home to be with Jesus. After many tears, I tried to take Tina back to Virginia, but her family would not let her out of the house. After two hours of fighting, I left the house without my daughter.

In less than 24 hours, I had lost both my husband and my daughter. While driving back to Virginia, the tears flowed uncontrollably.

“Mom, get a hold of yourself,” said my son.

The only thing that could console me was God’s Word. I asked Wesley to read the Bible to me. The first verse he read was from Luke 12:11:

“These are the last days; I have a job for you to do. When you are before kings, don’t worry about what you will say, for it will be the Holy Spirit speaking through you.”

The next passage he read was from Galatians, which was the book of the Bible that I had been teaching to the Bible school students.

God spoke to my heart and said: “My daughter, you are right where I want you to be.”

“Lord, you remember I promised Ken that I would fight for custody of Tina,” I told the Lord.

I said to my son, “Wes, open the Bible one more time.”

He opened the Bible and read these words, “Do not go to war with your relatives. The Lord says, “Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!” (2 Chronicles 11:4)

I stopped crying. I knew then that it was God’s will for Tina to stay with her uncle’s family.

Tina’s Reflection

It was a warm summer morning when Paula came into my room. The shock of my father’s death rocked my world.  “Who is going to take care of me?” were some of the first words out of my mouth.

It wasn’t long before my mother Irene came and then the yelling began. There was no way she was going to let Paula take me back to Virginia. My aunt quickly hurried her four children and myself to the neighbor’s house.

Paula left and I stayed. I stayed and went to the last day of camp.  I shared with my camp counselor about my father’s death and my concern about my own eternal destiny. The first time I remembered praying to receive Christ, I was by myself and was afraid I didn’t do it right. To help assure me of my salvation, I prayed the sinner’s prayer with my counselor.

For the next nine years I lived with my uncle and his family. Paula stayed in touch and visited as often as she could.

So, who took care of me? God did! In the midst of my messy life, God was there protecting and providing for my needs.

Is your life messy? Have you lost a loved one? Do you wonder who will take care of you? Let me introduce you to my Jesus. He is the Rock you can run to when your world falls apart.

Prayer

Abba Father,

Here we are with our messy lives. We have been hurt. We have been abandoned. We are filled with fear.

Take our hand, precious Savior. Lead us out of the land of darkness and into the land of your shining light.

Heal the wounds. Bind our broken hearts. Set us free from the bondage of sin.

Give us courage to face the uncertain future. Fill us with your power to overcome the giants that taunt us.

We look forward to victory!   

In Jesus’ name. Amen.