 |
| Photo by FanPop |
“My
friends, don’t be surprised if the people of this world hate you.”
1
John 3:13
(CEV)
A long time ago in a land far away there was a young girl
who lived with her father, her step-mother and her two step-sisters. Her father provided shelter and clothing and
depended on his wife to provide the other things a young lady might need as she
becomes a woman. He didn’t understand
that she needed her father’s love as he thought he was providing all that was
expected and knew nothing about the heart of a young woman. Meanwhile the step-mother was all about her
girls and in Cinderella’s heart; she was simply a lonely abandoned servant. At least that’s my take on this tale.
You all know how the story ends – Cinderella finds Prince
Charming who crowns her a princess and removes her from her old life of slavery
to a new abundant life walking gloriously in her new identity. Her savior values her, treasures her, cherishes
her, and makes a big to do about how important she is to him.
Oh how the step-sisters and step-mother hate that she has
been blessed and is highly favored. They
are green with envy that she gets to walk in wholeness without chains binding
her any longer. They can’t believe she
left them behind in their wounded anger.
My friend Shelley Hendrix once said, “When you are in the
midst of your God-ordained destiny, it WILL expose unhealed wounds in others.
Be kind. Offer grace. But keep going.” I
could so relate with this quote as my experience mirrors the story of Cinderella
in so many ways.
I was devastated when a lady who told me that I had ruined
her life because hearing my story had brought up unresolved issues from her
past. You see, God rescued me from my
past which included childhood sexual abuse by those in authority over me
outside of my family of origin. I lived for
many years holding in the secret of abuse and believing the lie that I was not
worthy. This very lie became the
perceived chains that bound me in fear and hopelessness. Now that I am overcoming that, I must tell
the world what I have found hope because I want them to walk in the same
freedom that eluded me for so many years.
However, knowing that my story had hurt this lady broke my
heart. I began to question whether or
not I was walking in my calling and fulfilling my God-given destiny. I believed that my walk and talk shouldn’t wound
others.
Then God reminded me that healing does hurt - but only for a short while. Afterwards,
the taste of freedom is incredible! Holding all of that poison inside of you is
much worse! Stasi Eldridge stated in the book Captivating, “We must grieve our
wounds because grief says that the wound mattered.” Yes, your wounds matter - don't ignore them -
don't stuff them - allow God to raise them up in you because maybe He's saying
it's time to grieve them and throw off those chains that bind you so you can
walk in FREEDOM and ABUNDANT NEW LIFE!
Have
you ever questioned your calling? If
yes, have you taken it to God? How did
He respond through prayer and scripture?
Is
there a lie you believe about yourself and how is is holding you back?
Do
you have wounds that you need to grieve so that you can walk in freedom and
abundant new life?
Christian vocalist and speaker Lori Kennedy believes in sharing the gifts and talents in which Christ has blessed her. Authenticity, transparency, and vulnerability are imperative to touching hearts for the Lord. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse from those in authority over her outside of her family of origin, Lori has had to overcome much to fulfill the destiny that God created just for her!
You can find out more about Lori and her ministry, Alpha Omega Ministries, at her website www.lorikennedy.com.
