I want to begin by sharing a portion of my journal from 2 years ago.

“I tried putting to death the voices of hopelessness…. Dare I trust a friend again lest she’ll stab me in the back while flashing the brightest smile? Dare I trust my beloved husband again lest he will divide his heart and share it with another? Dare I trust God again lest He in His wisdom would choose to allow someone else to come and place herself in direct competition against me to undermine, to sow seed of destruction, to speak the sweet words of curses upon my family? O God, if I do not dare, then what do I have left?”

That’s where I was 2 years ago. By God’s grace, He has allowed beauty to rise from devastation. He gently led me down the daring path of trusting again. God loved me through all my tears, all my doubts, all my demands for justice, all the imperfect 2 steps forward 3 steps back. What I have learned is that we have a perfect God, but we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people, that includes me.

Ken, not only have I forgiven you, I have grown to respect & love you more. I admire your courage in facing failures, humility in accepting the consequences of your actions & willingness to keep learning & growing no matter how rough things might get. You are a warrior & still my knight in shinning armor. I love you with all of my heart.

Isaiah 64:4 tells us that “God… acts on behalf of those who wait on him.” During this 2 long years, God has taught me to wait on Him. This process has helped me to forgive others involved & restore my trust in his people & His church. You have been invited here today because you have been a part of that healing, in loving us, sitting with us in our pain, accepting us & walking with us. God used your love to restore my faith in His people. Our God is a perfect God who knows all & see all. He loves deeply. More than I will ever know or can comprehend. My trust is in the perfect God who will make good of all pain & brokenness.