As my sisters and I embark on the project of documenting our childhood, I’m struck by how fleeting life can be. Many memories remain only in fragments… lost to time like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. As I journal about my early years, I’m bracing myself for a rollercoaster of emotions – a beautiful, bittersweet tapestry of joy, sorrow and everything in between. Isn’t that the essence of what life is all about?
When we talk about the stages of life, generally three distinct phases come to mind – childhood, adulthood and old age. But can our lives simply be summed up into these categories? Does our past play a significant role in shaping our character and defining us? Undeniably it does, but only until we acknowledge that our past doesn’t have to define us. We do not have to be imprisoned by it. Rather, we can use it as a tool for motivation to become the best version of ourselves.
And for Christians, our character matters. We are called to reflect the image of Christ – to be like Him in how we live, speak and respond to the world around us. (Romans 8:29 (ESV) – For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…) God builds good character in us – sometimes through the quiet struggles, pain and suffering. Yet, these moments are not wasted as Romans 5:3-5 (ESV) assures us “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.) It’s in those darkest hours that God often does His deepest work where blessings come through raindrops, and healing through tears.
With that said, let me return to the topic of childhood. As I reflect on those formative years, there were three significant individuals who have deeply impacted my life. Each of them influenced and shaped who I was before I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Saviour where I found true transformation. (2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come).
Click on each person below to read a brief introduction and how they have once played a part in my life.
Summing up my childhood in a nutshell, it was a combination of trauma and joy, resulting in both negative and positive outcomes. And in the midst of it, I was blessed with a constant source of comfort: my loving GRANDMOTHER! She was truly an angel sent from above – accepting me just as I was, flaws and all, and showering me with a love so unconditional, it felt like a tangible glimpse of God’s love.
In conclusion, I believe that everything unfolds according to God’s perfect plan. If He allows something to happen, He will redeem it, weaving it to work out for our good, and use it for His glory. Our lives are not random – every moment is held in His hands and we can rest in the promise that our faithful Heavenly Father will complete the good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6).
Glory to God in the highest!
Dolly's Sharing 