Thanks from Natalie

August 24, 2009 at 6:05 pm · Filed under "Journey" series, Adversity and Trials

- Originally published at the YLCF website on November 18, 2008

“Don’t waste your life trying to look good.
Spend your life making God look good.”  – John Piper

The above is one of many quotations and sweet words sent to me in letters from YLCF readers. Some made me smile; some made me cry. I’ve pondered your quotes, songs, and poetry, even copying pieces into my paper journal.

I want to give each and every one of you YLCF sisters a heartfelt thank you for your kind, encouraging letters and notes over the past two months. Even more, I am humbled and lifted up by your prayers. Thank you so, so much.

Gretchen passed the comments, emails, and letters on to me, and I’ve been blessed to see the response to what I shared in my posts. I feel an affection for you all, knowing that in Christ we are true sisters and have both a privilege and a responsibility to hold each other up during the storms of life. Praise God, I have been richly blessed with the most loving and supportive friends and family imaginable. Perhaps there will be a day in the future when I will return to a more active role on YLCF. Only God knows what the future holds. All I can do is hold His hand and stretch my trusting “muscles” as we carve out new paths.

I wanted to share with you a beautiful work of art, and part of its accompanying letter from one of our readers, named Jaime Marie. Below is her letter and above is her photography. May it embolden your heart as it did mine.

After reading your post, I began to completely lose faith in marriage and humanity. How could something like this happen? I am so glad that Jesus is a God that hears our cries and weeps along with us. I do believe that He wept and is weeping for you Natalie…

The photograph is of a girl, who had been hurt beyond imagination. Jesus has picked her up cleansed her and healed her, and clothed her as his precious and beloved bride. She cannot dance for him yet. Yet. But she has her head lifted to the heavens, and her arms lifted in praise to him. – Jaime Marie

Photo copyright Jamie Marie Photography

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