Once in a while, I visit a sweet elderly lady who used to drive through my town in a ice cream van when I was about 8-10 years old. Once we heard the sweet melody passing by our house, my sister and I would quickly search for our pocket money and run after the van to get a cone with chocolate-covered ice cream. A few years ago, we reached out to her by offering her some strawberries from our garden. I have stayed in touch with her ever since. She often speaks about her late mother and what life was like 60 years ago. Her mother often used to say: "life is like a wheel, sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down. When you are down, don't worry because everything will turn allright." It's such a simple truth but oh so valuable to hear once in a while. I like to go running when the weather is not too bad. It's ok if it's windy or cloudy, just as long as it's not pouring rain. Clear blue skies are no doubt the best weather for anything, but when the sky is cloudy there are often open gaps to be spotted. The sun breaks through in a few spots and the sun rays seem to be like natural spotlights. Sometimes a strong wind picks up, and I try to make headway against it up the hill. As soon as I reach the top and the road winds downhill, I feel as free and light as a bird being carried away. Meditating on this, I see and feel that my friend's late mother was right; sometimes you are up and your "wheel of fortune" is turning easily, while other days you're down and progress is far from our sight. I believe that if we cling on to faith and hope through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, we can see a purpose in everything, even the 'downs', i.e. the trials in life. Really bad things can happen to you, but if you surrender your brokenness and ask for the light to fill you again, you could become more supportive of and a blessing for others who are perhaps experiencing similar trials or difficulties. Last time I spoke with my sweet English aunt, she taught me a new saying in English. As a wonderful encourager and writer, she knows exactly what to say and when to say it. So here goes the saying; "You don't have to gild the Lilly". It means that there's no gain in trying to improve what is already beautiful or excellent (Shakespeare's King John vi. ii. 11.); i.e., you don't have to be perfect or try to pretend like everything is perfect, you are already excellent the way you are. No matter what your past is, how broken you've been, know that you are unique and that you have a special purpose in life. In the end it is good to go through darkness just for a little while in this temporary life, because that's how we learn to appreciate the light. My message to you is that whatever darkness you find yourself in at the moment, be it financial, spiritual, emotional or any other kind of trial, know that you are NEVER alone. There is someone bigger and stronger than any trial, sickness or trouble in this world, who wants to have a relationship with you. Jesus said: "whoever follows me, will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). When I read this last year in September, perhaps the most confronting period in my life so far, it was my only rock in the storm. Jesus is the lighthouse built on a strong rock that never shakes. No matter how your wheel is spinning; He can become your light in your darkest moments, if you allow Him to enter your heart. It is the best decision I have ever made, the sweetest treasure I owe. I believe once we let Jesus take the wheel, He will strengthen us, protect us and be with us wherever the road may lead. If only, we surrender :). Fortune is a lie; every good thing comes from Him, for believers as well as unbelievers, and every trial He can use to strengthen our trust in Him if only we surrender. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17
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