My Story
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, I lived a pretty good life with parents and sisters who loved me and doted over me. We had normal life challenges related to our differences, but I felt protected and provided for and prayed over.
I enjoyed college, got married to my soulmate Eric, and started my nursing career. Even though it didn’t feel like it in the day to day, looking back, I was living the dream. We experienced some challenging moves along the way related to school and job, but I really did not have a lot to cry about until I experienced grief.
My dream world was rocked in devastation. It has been nearly 10 years, and I want to share my grief journey in hopes that like me, you will find courage to live after loss
Hope was born
A few weeks before the ninth anniversary of Nicholas’s death, when I would normally be reliving the days leading up to the horrific event, expecting a different outcome that never came, God performed a miracle.
As I was crying out for the umpteenth time, God heard me. He had been hearing me before, but this time was different. This time when God heard me, He set my feet on solid ground and put a new song in my heart.
The heavy grief cloud was lifted. The sun was shining and I didn’t have to pull the blinds. I could laugh and not feel guilty. And I could take a deep breath and let it out without feeling pain.
I hadn’t realized how long I had been holding my breath until that moment. It felt so good to just release it. It was if God was saying, I kept you under the weight of suffering for a purpose and now that purpose is complete and you are released.
Hope was born.
A few weeks before the ninth anniversary of Nicholas’s death, when I would normally be reliving the days leading up to the horrific event, expecting a different outcome that never came, God performed a miracle.
As I was crying out for the umpteenth time, God heard me. He had been hearing me before, but this time was different. This time when God heard me, He set my feet on solid ground and put a new song in my heart.
The heavy grief cloud was lifted. The sun was shining and I didn’t have to pull the blinds. I could laugh and not feel guilty. And I could take a deep breath and let it out without feeling pain.
I hadn’t realized how long I had been holding my breath until that moment. It felt so good to just release it. It was if God was saying, I kept you under the weight of suffering for a purpose and now that purpose is complete and you are released.
What I Believe
I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit living in perfect unity, equal in essence with different functions.
I believe Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God but is God and was chosen by His Father to become the Son of Man for the purpose of restoring sinful mankind to a Holy God. At the perfect God-appointed time, Jesus Christ willingly submitted to His Father’s will and became flesh through the Holy Spirit moving within the virgin Mary.
I believe because of His great love, the Father was willing to send His only Son to live a perfect life and then suffer a cruel undeserving death on the cross to pay the wage for our sins, as He was the only sacrifice that would prove to be sufficient.
I believe God chose a people unto Himself, and I show I am His by my obedience to His Word. I believe His blood was sufficient to pay for my sin, and I must also confess Him as Lord, submitting myself to Him as He did His Father.
I believe the Holy Spirit indwells every blood bought born again sinner at the point of their conversion, thus making it possible to understand the Truth of God’s Word and be prompted to live a life worthy of the calling.
I believe baptism does not save me but is a step of obedience as an outward picture of my inward decision.
I believe God created me to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever, and I do this best when I give a correct picture of His character, which perfectly marries Truth with Love, not overemphasizing one over the other.
I believe God called his followers to a priesthood of believers and gifted us uniquely to do the good work He called us to. We are most satisfied when living life this way in the community of a local Church.
I believe we live with the Hope of our inheritance with Christ as we are waiting for His return to set up New Heaven and New Earth.