God’s plans will always include restoring what the enemy tried to steal

Wednesday’s Word

Have you ever experienced something and then in that moment or sometime thereafter realized it coincided with God’s promises?
Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Trench Classes United. I am so glad you joined me for a little break!
In my mid-30s, I was blessed with a BFF with whom I did everything with. We even became roommates and I realized shortly after that that God was restoring what the enemy had tried to steal from me because of my early childhood. It was one of my most joyful seasons in life. A couple years into that season, she got engaged and began saving for the wedding, which required moving back home with her parents. She invited me to move in, too, because I was saving for a new home that was being built and wouldn’t be ready for about 6-9 months.
That season of hanging out with her parents was again, another season that God restored what the enemy tried to steal Joel 2:25: parents who loved and nurtured not just her, but me too, and not in a smothering type of way. I didn’t have this as a child growing up, and while I was in this season, I was so aware of their love. Their love truly helped to enrich my faith.
Pops, as I like to call her dad, was a gentle quiet giant, soft-spoken, a man of few words, but when he spoke your ear just went to this soothing voice that always had some piece of wisdom bathed in love to offer. He was incredible loving to his family and he was no different with me. He would always leave the light on whenever either one of us would go out, and sometimes he’d even wait up, especially if I was out on a date with someone he didn’t know 😊
Oh, but those were the days…do you ever do that, look back and think, wow, life was so simple then? And yet, it was woven into the tapestry of our stories for multiple reasons as God does use all things to help us become more and more like Him. These were heavenly days with heavenly-like parents and I’ll cherish them for always. What brings these memories to the surface of my heart?
I received a text the other night from my BGG’s husband letting us know that Pops had been rushed to the hospital  and was in ICU with a serious infection which was affecting his blood pressure, so much so that they had to intubate him. Two hours later we received another text saying his body was shutting down.
We left immediately for the hospital and what I saw when I finally reached him rendered my heart broken. He was pretty cognizant of his surroundings and wasn’t too happy about the tube coming out of his throat helping him to breathe.
I bent down, brushed his hot forehead, and silently ordered fear to leave. I began talking with him. Mom and the rest of the family almost simultaneously said, He hears you, Kim.” I was telling him how thankful I am to have a pop who always left the light on for me, that him leaving the light on inspired me to be a light to and for others and that I would leave the light on; I would keep encouraging others in the dark. I told him he that he had always been like a father to me.
He raised his hand and I could just tell he wanted to speak. I squeezed his hand and turned to let someone else up by his face.
Others took their turn at his side and we stayed for a couple of hours. Before I left, I looked into his glazed gray eyes and said, “Pops, I know you’re tired; if you want to fight this, fight this; but if you want to let go, that’s okay, too. But for now, just close your eyes and rest. I love you.”
27 hours later, he let go and went to entertain the angels with his amazing sweet, silky smooth voice, welcomed by the ultimate Father who is rewarding him for being a father to the fatherless, and I was one of them.
His unconditional love that always left the light on has inspired me to be a light that never goes out for others.
Love,
Kim-Evinda