ABANDONED
I am fortunate to have a sister-in-law who has become one of my closest friends. She is possibly the most upbeat and self-assured person I’ve ever met. Her intelligence, wit, and advice have helped me through many valleys in my life, and I’ve found myself relying on her many times for common-sense approaches to problem resolution. Laney is an avid lover of the outdoors, and her cycling, hiking, paddle boarding, waterskiing, etc. are genuine testaments to her amazing abilities.
With these glowing attributes, you probably think that her upbringing was exceptional and her parents were strong, supportive, and empowering. Quite the contrary; Laney’s childhood was dismal. An alcoholic, self-absorbed, verbally abusive mother and an unconcerned, negligent, disinterested father put Laney in the position of being responsible not only for her own upbringing but for her younger brother’s, as well. She was cast in the role of rescuer—both in terms of tending to her mother’s repeated episodes of alcohol-induced blackouts, and in terms of assisting her brother with his daily needs at home and school.
Bridge
Devoid of strong parenting and mentorship, Laney was essentially on her own in her mid-teens, which has led many that age into a life of continual bad decision-making. However, Laney developed into a strong-willed, independent, insightful young woman, who rose above the negatives to become a highly successful professional in the business world, as well as a loving mother to four children and grandmother to 9 grandchildren.
Laney put her past behind her and went to college so her own children would experience a childhood vastly different from her own. Laney’s passionate allegiance to family cohesiveness is evident in holiday and birthday celebrations, as each event is specially planned, decorated with her own special touches, and filled with laughter, sharing, and memories.
Spending any amount of time with Laney, one would be hard-pressed to believe she came from the background described above. Laney exudes kindness, empathy, intelligence, humor, Christianity, and everlasting care and concern for her friends, family, coworkers, and animals.
Blesson
Though it might have been easier to blame a poor upbringing and take a seat in society’s overpopulated “Victim Section,” Laney is an authentic example of a person who made the decision to “do the harder thing”. Instead of becoming dependent on others to take care of her, Laney depended on herself, found employment, sought higher education, and used her past as a catalyst to become an incredible inspiration for her husband, children, grandchildren, and friends.
She epitomizes a Christian lifestyle, demonstrating a strong belief in God, and leads the youngest members of her family to be Christ-like in their interactions with each other and with their parents, teachers, and classmates. Offering wise advice and counsel, Laney continually inspires them to reach for their aspirations, never letting fear become a deterrent.
Laney’s life assures me that God never leaves us nor forsakes us, even when others do. I am confident that throughout her life, He took Laney’s hand and led her through challenges, walked beside her when she faltered, and gently nudged her in the right direction when she came to a fork in the road. Through all the twists and turns she encountered, God created an enduring strength within Laney that, to this day, is an inner fortitude that will always stand victorious against the enemy.
Substance
The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. Proverbs 22: 2-5 (ESV)
I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Ephesians 3:16 (NLT)
