Oasis Well

It’s a beautiful Easter Sunday in northwest Indiana. The trees are budding, robins are building their nests, daffodils are standing tall…spring and renewal from a cold and wet winter…a hope-filled time that summer is really coming!

Today I can say my mind, body and spirit are in the same mode as the season. Alot of changes after a desert wandering time in my life and I am now finally able to move forward with excitement and anticipation.

I found the following yesterday and it blessed my heart as I have had my moments in the last year where I entertained the thought of quitting. But…by the grace and mercy of God I am bamboo.

The Fern and the Bamboo

“God”, I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”
His answer surprised me, “Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”

“Yes”, I replied.

“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.”

Then I heard God say to my heart, “In the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.”

God spoke to my heart, “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don’t compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come,” God said to me. “You will rise high!”

“How high should I rise?” I asked.
“How high will the bamboo rise?” God asked in return.
“As high as it can?” I questioned. “Yes.”
He replied, “Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”

I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. Remember God NEVER quits on us….. so lets not give up on HIM or serving HIM wherever we are…

I am survivor of childhood abuse: Every kind of abuse from my mother (22% of pedophiles are women) sexual abuse from my brother. As an abused child I experienced a childhood in the desert of illnesses. I now understand illness is an expected scenario given the constant internal and external stress of an abused child (and children raised in domestic violence) carries. And I now understand until abuse issues are dealt with and healed that internal stress cannot be alleviated at an oasis of refreshing which results in continued illness in the adult years.

In spring of 1984 I was 35 years old and in the most parched place of my life. I had severe allergies requiring weekly allergy injections and a lot of allergy medication. I was always fatigued, in bed a lot of the time, fought sinus and bronchial infections and yeast infections constantly and was an overall miserable mess.

In September of 1984 I came to a crossroad in my spiritual and emotional life that ended in my allowing God to take my very damaged heart and emotions and heal them with His Word. About six months into this lengthy process my allergies were so minimal that I no longer required allergy shots and I seldom took allergy medications. By mid-1985 the sinus infections and yeast infections were far and few between. The bronchial infections occurred far less often.

At this time I began to see a licensed physician who is a dear Christian man. He was the first doctor I asked about the ‘coincidence’ of my emotional healing and healing from allergies and infections. I remember clearly his saying to me it was no ‘coincidence’ and then teaching me about inner stress. He assured me what I experienced was a normal reaction to my internal healing. Since then I have asked two other physicians the same question and received the same answers.

Please visit ‘Choosing to be Well’…information for survivors of abuse concerning ill health: Choosing To Be Well