LD
When I was a one year old child, I was stricken with polio. I was put in a polio ward with other victims. The fear was so great that Doctors, nurses, & parents did not come in. Food was left outside the door for the patients to bring in. Two seven year old victims took care of me.
I was deprived of my mother for two weeks at the age of one. Two years later I was operated on to repair damage to my left leg. Once again, I had to spend time away from my mother.
A year later, I became a victim of childhood sexual abuse by an older female cousin for an entire year we slept in the same bed.
I wore braces till the age of five like Forrest Gump.
I eventually overcame this stuff, played football basketball, swimming etc.
I was so damaged mentally however, by the trauma, that I was considered a special needs child. My teachers would make fun of me as the class tortis and slow learner.
In fourth grade my life was saved by my teacher who taught me to read, made me a lover of literature, and saved me.
Eventually, I overcame my feelings of inferiority, became an athlete, became a student of history, and lived as a history teacher/athletic coach. I am in my high school and state athletic hall of fame.
I married a beautiful woman, and had two fabulous kids and four grandchildren.
The thing that motivated me was the struggle to overcome the things that should have destroyed me. I was too stubborn to give in to the things that tried to set me back.
Would my life have been easier without those challenges? Sure, but life isn't meant to be easier.
I still have the scars of those things that happened. They will never go away. But they are the source of my strength now. They made me stronger than I ever would have been otherwise.
They say when we stand before God, he will look for scars not stars.
You can fight through this, you can come out stronger from this. You have said you will fight for him forever, do not give in to your fears and doubts.
Prove to him by your willingness to bear every burden that it will take to come through this.
[This message edited by skerzoid at 2:25 PM, September 29th (Sunday)]