Joseph

This spoke to me this morning. Genesis 50:19-20 Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him, they sold him instead.  Later on in life his brothers were afraid he would get revenge, but Joseph understood where he fit into God's plan.  He knew God intended for the chain of events, his suffering, to protect their entire race from starvation.


I decided that I should begin to look for the bigger picture in my life.  


My first love, was incapable of true love because he never knew Jesus.  He broke my heart in many ways, but with him I have my awesome daughter.  He never was much of a father, but he is such a tender grandfather.  Rarely do our paths cross, but when they do, my heart breaks again, not for me, but for him. He seems sad and lost.


Our paths crossed this Thanksgiving Holiday and I watched him love on our newest grandbaby and play with our two year old grandson, then I watched him lovingly pat our daughter on the head.  I know he is incapable of being responsible as a parent should be, but who am I to have an attitude of disgust and arrogance toward this broken person.  My heart healed years ago, what about his?  Will he ever heal from life's cruelty?  Will his pain ever go away and will he ever be able to conquer his demons?


I don't know the answer to these questions, but I do know that when his path crosses mine, love, joy, peace,  kindness, goodness, and gentleness should be speaking loudly!  


Did I suffer like Joseph, not exactly, but I did suffer some.  Will that suffering feed an entire race, probably not, but what it can do is help a family find Jesus and all His benefits.  Maybe I will look outside of myself and look for God's hand in the bigger picture!

Just in case anyone from his family reads this post, I want to say that I really do love all of you.  I see so many good qualities in  your family and Sarah inherited all of them.  I just see a cloud of darkness stopping you from all the good things your creator intended for you to have.  Evil has robbed you of much.  Someday I pray for you to encounter the fullness of the true Jesus.   I know you believe, I just want you to go on and benefit from all His goodness. He loves you.