MY BRAVE FRIEND

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My very close friend is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.
As she grew older the untreated wounds left by the abuse sent her seemingly perfect life, spiraling out of control. She married a man who emotionally abused her and made her feel like a victim all over again...So she engaged in self destructive behavior that made her life even more unbearable. The unhealthy marriage eventually ended.

Deeply troubled, my friend accepted a trip to Medjugorje, where she quite unexpectedly, received a spiritual conversion...that inspired her to attend daily Mass. Following a medical intervention to deal with all the trauma, she began the slow process of emotional healing.

Like most young women, my friend eventually wanted to get married again and so she began praying for God to send her the right husband...One who would be filled with faith and Love and the unending belief that with God-all things are possible. As she prayed one night in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, she watched a young man praying on his knees and so she nudged her Jesus saying, "Send me a man like him." Many months later, when she least expected it, God answered her prayers. But who could have guessed that God-would say "SURPRISE!"...and send her the very same man she had seen in the Chapel that blessed night?

You could say their marriage was made in heaven. It certainly seems that way. But you can also see that it has survived the trials of this life. My friend is a recent survivor of breast cancer. Long, strenuous, life debilitating treatments- zapped her energy and made her hair fall out. Some days she wanted to die. But, by the grace of God, she held on-to the hope-that she would be healed.

This week my brave friend is facing another challenge. Spending a week in a Cincinnati hospital with her teenage daughter, who is suffering from severe grand mal seizures. This is her second child to face challenging medical issues in the last year.

So tonight as I tucked my children into bed, I thought about her stamina and her courage and her deep conviction in the power of God to make miracles happen...even when the messes keep piling up on her. And I said a prayer for her family and especially for her Loving husband-who has given her the gift of unconditional Love-the lifeblood of her life.

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