What If?

What if?

Yesterday I was going through my cassette tapes and CDs and found the audio recording of daughter Regina and Matthew's wedding. Since I had not listened to it in many years - they were married in 1991 - I proceeded to give it a listen.

As I listened I thought how little they and us knew about the trials they were to encounter in a few short years. In three years she would be diagnosed with cancer and battled it for less then a year. In the meantime she had birthed two children.

I got to thinking: What if we had known she would get cancer would we have recommended she get married? Dealing with brain cancer is no picnic, I promise. I asked Rollin he said, "I do not think we would have recommended her to marry." I understand.

When you look at cancer up close it is daunting at the least, wretching at its worst.

But I am glad we did not know. She left us with two fine grandchildren - one a daughter, Carmen, who is a lot like her mom. AND now she is fixing to get married! What greater blessing could have come out of this trial?
I feel so richly blessed because I am blessed! God helped us to endure this trial - this was accompanied with a lot of blessings as well - and now there are two fine grandchildren with the oldest getting married next week to a fine young man, Brandon Martin.

Thank-you, God, that we did not know the future because we may have missed some fine blessings if we had gotten our way...just goes to prove that our way can be seriously flawed.

Sandra Miller

Thank-you, God, that we did not know the future because we may have missed some fine blessings if we had gotten our way...just goes to prove that our way can be seriously flawed.

Yes sister very true. In 2013 the Lord asked me to leave USA and go back to my home and be a witness for him. I went without knowing why. Within 3 months of reaching India, my mother passed away suddenly. In her death bed she repented of all the ill-treatment that I received from her for my faith in Jesus. I got a chance to show her my faith and how I run my family in Christian way. My 2 elder sisters who did not want marriage, after seeing my married life, agreed to marry. One of them has a daughter now in her 40s! My sisters who vehemently opposed my marriage, agreed that my christian wife is the best match for me after 3 years of observing my married life!

But immediately after I left USA in 2013, I came to know that I missed a beautiful opportunity to get citizenship in USA because of my decision to return India. If I had known that such an opportunity was knocking my doors, I would not have left USA. But instead I would have lost my mother for eternity and my siblings would have lived without any hope on this earth. It was good that the Lord hid it from my eyes to give me far better things!

Thank you for sharing, Sandra, the story of your beautiful daughter and a life fully lived with wonderful children.
I fear that so many young people now are trying to predict the future and make decisions based on worldly wisdom. "What if?"
The worldly wisdom urges young people not to commit to marriage until they have lived together. "What if we are not sexually compatible?" which in turn brings more uncommitted decisions.
Abortion is an 'option' for an unwanted pregnancy. "What if we can't afford a child?"
An ultrasound can spot a 'defect'' and a Down's syndrome child can be aborted. "What if I have to sacrifice my lifestyle for a burdensome special needs child?"
A painful childhood can give one the 'option' to choose a homosexual lifestyle and permission to choose an aberrant sexual lifestyle and be 'married' with the law giving a marriage certificate.
"What if I'm not really a woman? Or a man? "
"What if I married the wrong person? God wants me to be happy!"
It is best not to explore these "what ifs?" For God is a just and a faithful God. These "what ifs" lead us to a life of not trusting God for the outcomes. These "what ifs" keep us from walking in faith, obeying the Word and seeing God do marvelous things as we trust Him.
I wish I was only speaking of unbelievers who know no better, but I am seeing those who grew up with the knowledge of God make these "what if" decisions.
It must keep us on our knees, dear sister. I pray that our children and grandchildren will stand on the Word of God and make the hard decisions which turn out to be the right decisions.
Sis L

Thank you for sharing your story, Sree.
So many times in our walks we have to step out in faith and not question the Lord. Only in hindsight do we see His wisdom and what glorious things He has done. That is trusting the Lord and He promises that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
Sis L

Hi Ms. Sandra,

That is so very beautiful and thought-provoking! Thank you for sharing!

-Chris

I fear that so many young people now are trying to predict the future and make decisions based on worldly wisdom. "What if?"

Your post reminded on something that I shared recently in my Church. It is on Ruth. In front of Ruth when her motherinlaw wanted her to turn back to Moab, there were 2 options.
1. To return to Moab, marry a moabite who might be young and rich. Get a good life.
2. Go with this old women to an unknown territory of Israel. No more sons she has to give in marriage to Ruth, hence lesser probability of marriage. Poverty along with burden of supporting her Inlaw.

But she choose the 2nd option which clearly had very very lesser probability of settling down in a comfortable life. There were lot of 'Whatifs' in that option that could go wrong. She struggled in Israel, worked hard for her living. Ended up marrying an old rich man!

But what did she gain from this decision in the eyes of eternity? She had Jesus born of her linage and her name mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Only few women are mentioned there and she is one of them!

Lesson learnt, whenever we take the path of Cross (sacrifice) there is always Christ (likeness) born through that.

This is the most captivating discussion I have read in today. A blessed and meaningful testimonies. Thanks all for sharing, it keeps me empowered (faith in the Lord Jesus).