What It Means To Keep A Promise

Life has been challenging for my children and I over the past few years. With those challenging times came new commitments of what it meant to be a "family", what it meant to have a relationship with God, what commitments we would need to make to each other to survive, and what sacrifices would need to be made to live up to all of the above.

One of the commitments that I made to Kayla was not to get into a serious (marriage) relationship until she was eighteen. I was willing to make that commitment to her because I believed that she deserved my undivided love, time and focus. I thought it was important for her to see that there are rewards in life for approaching adversity with faith, hope and love. Over the years the journey was rugged, there were times that I had to refocus and remind myself of that responsibility to God and to Kayla. There were many times that I wondered why I had to walk this point of my journey alone. I reminded God that I felt empty. Simultaneously, I prayed that God would hear my prayer and promise to send love to my empty life. I made a pact with Him..."I'll keep my promise if You'll keep Yours". I know God listened and understood - John 11:41 "Jesus looked up and said 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me...'"

Kayla turned eighteen November 11th, 2008. It was somewhat of a time of Emancipation Proclamation for me. After all, Kayla is my baby. I had successfully nurtured all three of my children to adulthood and I had kept my promise to her. To me this date meant, I was no longer a "Prisoner of my Past".

I finished 2008 with hope and celebration of keeping that promise. I now wait with anticipation to see how God will deliver His promise. It is not a matter of "if", It is a matter of "when" . God always keeps His promises to those who are faithful. Matthew 7: 11-12 ...know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything , do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law of the Prophets.

This next phase of the execution of the plan will be bittersweet. I know He will deliver far more than I would ask of Him.