What follows in these tales from My life is a story I need to write. [[A story of life and drama that I long to write down. Not only for myself, but also as a reminder of things gone by. It is a story of forming and shaping and intrigue . But primarily it is a story about hope. If you choose to tread these pages with me, do so with reverence and kindness because one does not write these things lightly. If you are one who has the need to flirt a little with being nosy then perhaps you should pass by this story. For it is true and full. It needs not your judgment nor your advice. But if you want to read on, then read it as a novel should be read. For it is but just one story among many.
The Two will become one Flesh Indeed
Being married to Dougie started off as one big adventure and it has remained that way ever since. I am not that comfortable with adventures and so Doug has afforded me an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone into another area struggle – trust.
The very first year of our married life together , we enjoyed in Johannesburg. It was a good first year. Doug's farther was born in Manchester in the UK and so that afforded him the privilege of having a British Passport. So one year into the marriage adventure, we left the country and city of our birth and heritage and flew to London. The first part of the adventure full on track. We lived in Brittan for 5 and a half years. Doug worked as a computer programmer and I attempeted to teach :) . We lived in ceveral places but finally came to rest in Bromley Kent. Our son James was born in Farnborogh Hospital in 2000. Becomming parents was to be part 2 of the magnifacent adventure.
Doug and I were very blessed in that he urned a good salary and so we were able to save a great deal. With this money we back packed around South America starting in Lima, Peru on through Bolivia, Chile, Argentine and finally Brazil. This was a life changing and enriching experience for us both. It was on this trip that I fell pregnant with James.
An interesting beginning to an interesting part of life. :)
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My very difficult and painful childhood had left me totally devoid of an ability to trust another person. My mariage to Doug is indeed the very place I needed to learn to entrust myself to another.. Much of my relathionship with Doug has been very much like a dance. A very special and unique Tango, with God as the writer of the music and the guider of the steps.
The adventure is into its 17th year now and still we dance on. God has given me a very good man with whom to share the time on earth. He has blessed us with 4 great sons. The eldest is 12 and the youngest 6. Jesus is continuing his work as grand master artist as he uses our lives as his lump of clay with all its imperfections and brokenness. My difficult and broken childhood has left me with wounds and specific struggles. I am learning to trust others; learning to trust my God given husband and learning to trust our great and mighty God. As we walk along the journey called life, he is there, invisible but a real help in times of plenty and in times of need.
We returned to South Africa, Cape Town towards the end of 2001. I was pregnant with another son, Thomas. He was born on December 1st 2001. I have written something of the walk with have with having a special needs child. Thomas is on the ADHD spectrum and this has bright a different richness to our lives. I have also written on this blog about my husband and his discovery of being ADHD. We are not surprised nor ashamed. We stand ontop of the box that could so easily box and we fight to give this special boy his wings so that he can fly. Knowing his strengths and weaknesses is indeed a help as we seek to parent him for God's glory. And it is so with all our children. And so we began another part in the puzzle of our married life. That which afforded us the opportunity to love and care for 4 livley, smelly , busy , dirty , crazy and yet kind and loving, caring and fun boys.
We have settled in Bergvliet Cape Town. Our boys attend a local, community school. Doug continues to brigthen my life with adventure that fits with his role as husband and father. God continues to chistle away at my character and soul. I continue to stand in his grace of forgiveness.
In all honesty my marriage is nothing like I longed for. My dream was all full of false promises and fake, unrealisc hope. Being a mom is nothing that I thought it would be either. Here and now is reality and I am in no doubt that my feet are firmly planted in the real world of life. My eyes are wide open and there is no naive hope. There have been some very real times of trial as well as these great things. Life is like that is it not?
But I have a real and lasting hope given me as a precious gift from an equally real and living, kind King. His name is Jesus. He knows me inside and out and nothing I can do, say, be or make comes even a little close to that which I have from being known and loved by this King.No matter what the future holds for all of us , I know God is with us and at work.
This blog shares something of our lives as we seek to live lives that bring glory to him.
We are blessed indeed.
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