Love Borne From Sorrow

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Sorrow has a funny way of expressing itself. Sometimes it overtakes us, consumes us. Sometimes it is faint and in the background, mostly unnoticed by others. Sometimes it brings us to our knees and forces us to make the hardest of choices. But sometimes it can develop into the greatest human joy and love that one could hope to dream of. I say human joy and love, because the use of sorrowing times should always lead us to God to seek comfort. And if we know how to look, we will see that He always does……. through many different means.

With that in mind, let me tell you a story; a story of love borne from sorrow.

Nearly two years ago, a young, bright, funny, sweet, and lovely 29 year old woman began having symptoms of something, something unknown….., something that caused her health to take a turn for the worst. She began suffering from an unknown illness, an illness that caused her a variety of neurological issues, pain, insomnia, and fatigue. The many doctors she went to did not know what to do. They could not quite figure out why all of the sweet young womans’ tests kept coming back negative. This went on for quite a while. Finally, the right doctors were brought in to find out just how to treat this girl, now 30 years old, and her unknown illness. She was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease. This Lyme bug had been attacking her Central Nervous System. And these doctors were telling her that she needed to go through a treatment of high doses of antibiotics, as well as a variety of other meds, change her diet drastically, and, really, change her life for a time. As she started this treatment, she began to blog about her experiences, opening her heart to others who needed encouragement during their own trials, even though she was facing the toughest and most distressing part of her life and learning to trust God in the midst of great sorrow.……

A bit over a year ago, a young, burly 29 year old man found out his beautiful wife had cancer, a type that is very difficult to treat. They spent the next 10 months on a very intense chemotherapy regimen. Finally, the Lord took his wife up to heaven at the end of her long hard battle. Towards the end of that battle, the young man started a blog. He posted updates on the situation and wrote articles that would hopefully inspire and encourage others, even those who were grieved over the trial as well, to trust in God in the midst of inescapable sorrow. When his wife died, the young man was at a loss, especially because he had a 2 year old son at home.  But somehow, the Lord began to heal him from his grief. The young man also understood that sharing his thoughts and feelings on his blog was helpful for him and others. So he continued…….

As he wrote, a great many people commented on his writing. Some expressed hope, prayers, and concerns. Some were more thoughtful, unique, and insightful. About two weeks after the young man lost his wife and started to heal from the grief, he began contacting some of the more insightful commenters, mostly to thank them for their encouragement. One commenter particularly stood out to him. It was a fellow writer/blogger, a young woman who uniquely seemed to understand his sorrow at the time. He began reading her blog and one thing that stood out to him was that she was going through a sorrowful time as well. She had an illness. Not one that he fully understood. But he could see her special precious heart in her writing, and read how her faith was put into action, and he felt compelled to respond…..It was all so innocent, you see. He sent her an email thanking her for her comments and asking her how she was doing and about her illness and how he could pray for her.

The young woman innocently wrote back, told him about her health issues and how he could pray for her, and began asking about how she could pray for him. And from then on, as fellow Christians, they began encouraging each other…..daily…..and finding out what made them both tick; Likes, Dislikes, Passions, Personality, Family, Friends, Struggles, Faith, Theology…..And all along the way, slowly growing a friendship based upon two sorrowful hearts seeking the Lord’s will for both of their lives; not even thinking about starting anything but a friendship with each other, but also…finding that in each other, they found a deep kindredness and like-mindedness that seemed to sooth both of their weary souls. Maybe it was in the caring for one another that starting to bring healing to the both of them. The grieving man began to come out of grief with vigor and a smile, and the sick girl became less and less sick and more and more energetic and robust. The two of them wrote nearly 200 lengthy email letters, and eventually had countless texts and phone conversations, all filled to the brim with information of who each other was at the heart. They got to know each other from the inside out, instead of the usual outside in. So when they finally met, they knew each other quite well…which was exactly 3 months to the day from when the young man first wrote to the young woman.

Who would have thought that the Lord would have worked out such a blessing, such a beautiful…….. love borne out of such great inescapable sorrow? This is one of those times that the Lord had an incredible gift to give two people who were in great need, yet not looking to find it in one another. But they found that God used each other as part of His means of healing and helping one another. And at the end of the unusual and tentative friendship was a God-made, brilliant, deep romance and enduring, passionate love to be found in each other.

And, as you might have guessed, this story is a true story. 4 ½ months ago today, this story began being written. It’s the story of the love shared by me, Joshua Grenier and my new love, Lydia Saugey!

And today is a special day. Today is my new love’s Birthday! Lydia, I Dearly Love You!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY BEAUTIFUL WONDERFUL LYDIA!!!

Posted by Joshua C Grenier on September 22, 2012

https://greenearsandsham.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/love-born-from-sorrow/