This past Friday I was filling out a form that required me to write down the day’s date.
The date was April 10th, and as is always the case, seeing that date sent a flood of memories surging through my mind. I shared the following statement on my Facebook page not long after having traveled back through the corridor of time:
“April 10, 1985 ... 30 years ago.
On that date, I was a sophomore in high school - one who'd grown deeply weary of living. It was a bright and sunny Wednesday outside, but in my heart and head all was bleak and black.
I skipped school that day, after having purchased a bottle full of pills - pills that I thought might finally lead me to a place of peace and rest, for in my life I knew no peace and rest.
I was a weary young woman who had no hope and I was on the verge of my first true consideration of and attempt at suicide.
I battled against that bottle for hours, finally flinging it aside - not from a place of faith that things would get better in life, but from one of fear that I might fail in my attempt and find myself in even worse straits than the current moment contained.
While my reason for remaining wasn't the best (and wouldn't truly be resolved until years later when once again I sat in a suicidal state and was met by the saving mercy of Christ), I am thankful for the fear that foiled my foolishness.
Today, 30 years later, I'm thankful for April 10, 2015 - thankful that I'm even here to write this post, thankful for all the other manifold moments of mercy that have met me, and thankful for the sovereign grace of God that has kept me. HE is why I am here."
The comments on my page resounded with cries of thanksgiving, gladness, joy, and praise.
The post was seen as good news in the face of what could have been the most macabre of moments.
The post was seen as good news in the face of what could have been the most macabre of moments.
The next evening, while scanning my Facebook news feed, I ran across a post from an old high school friend. I was surprised to see that it was a “cut and paste” version of the quote
above.
What had been “cut” was any record of my Redeemer.
Here’s how it read:
What had been “cut” was any record of my Redeemer.
Here’s how it read:
