Isaiah 61:1-4 has recently become some of my favorite scripture. I've been reading "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore which is an awesome, amazing book. She bases the book on Isaiah 61:1-4. In verse 3 it says "to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." I have witnessed God do this very thing in my own life.
In January of 2001 my father passed away. The news was devastating. The loss of a relationship that had always been distant at best was now gone forever without any further possibility of growth, making the good memories I have with him that much sweeter. My heart was broken in a way it had never known before. My eyes poured tears many nights while my chest ached so bad I could barely catch my breath at times. It was a hurt deeper than any I had ever felt previously.
I have a sister, Shana, who is four years older than I am. She was raised by my father's parents and I was raised by my mother. Through the years we would visit my grandparents and my sister and I have many fond memories of those times together. Chocolate ice cream for dessert at Denney's after a grilled cheese sandwich was my usual back then. I loved spending time with my sister. I always looked up to her. She was the coolest thing since sliced bread in my book.
During our teen years we kind of lost touch. My mom and I had moved back and forth between Florida and North Carolina and somewhere in all of that my sister and I just lost touch. I dreamed of a time when we might be able to be as sisters are supposed to be. Maybe one day when we both have our own children we'll be able to walk side by side through a shopping center with our strollers in tow, doing what girls do best - shopping. Maybe we will be able to share many conversations over a hot cup of tea or a fragrant glass of wine. This was a dream that remained nicely tucked away in the corners of my mind.
When my father passed away it had been quite a while since I had seen or spoken to my sister. She called me that day, to give me the news. Little did we know at the time but that dreadful, awful occasion was the start of that dream.
I love my sister immensely and I need her. We usually keep in contact through email mainly as loud children in the background make phone conversation difficult. Here lately though we've both been extremely busy and not able to communicate so I thought recently that I need to let her know how much she means to me. It's through conversation and spending time together that I learn about myself while also learning about her and other family that I haven't known as well as she has through the years. The last several years our families have vacationed together and last year we were very fortunate, thanks to my hubby, to be able to spend several days together, just the two of us, on a cruise to Cozumel. We've made a lot of really good memories over the last several years and I look forward to many, many more. Shana, I just want you, need you to know that I thank God for you.
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
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