Surrender Early...

SURRENDER EARLY means:
* Asking the Spirit of God to alert us when we are about to enter dangerous and untrue thinking. He will answer this prayer and provide a way of escape from the trap.
* Turning the problem over to God, surrendering, to the One who is able to handle all our concerns with wisdom and love.
* Choosing to trust and not to fear.
* Experiencing peace in knowing that God will give the wisdom you need to handle whatever comes your way.

This came in a pray letter from a dear friend, Helen Ebert, today, just when I needed it. Helen's wonderful husband Larry, was killed in a car accident while they were in Africa, about nine years ago. I remember it because it was so close to my sister's Lin's untimely death. Why, God? Why these two amazing, Spirit filled people, called home to you, so young, so much for them to do for You? Helen has gone on to raise three boys to wonderful young men, she has a ministry both here and in Africa. The first baby was born at the Larry Ebert Clinic in West Africa in May; she was named Helen ( my mom's name, too).

So what does Surrender Early mean to me right now? I only wish I was eloquent enough to write the words to describe the pain I am in. I miss Laurie with every fiber of my being; I am determined to be there for Katie, and with that, for Tommy and the kids. I am too aware of tension in the family as we tiptoe around what we face in the coming months. Pete and I just had a tough talk about how we need to communicate with each other and with the rest of the family. We are surrendering it to Him; I am choosing to trust and not to fear.

If all this was light and fluffy, it would not be real. Losing a marriage, a sister, a mom and dad and a daughter, that's a lot of pain, but I surrender it and am going to trust. God, I trust you.