When we enter school,one of the first things we learn is tests are a part of learning.   In learning to live we all incur tests.   Testing is of God.   God requires an atonement for our sins.  An atonement being a suffering of sorts for the love of Christ.   Jesus Christ the redeemer of the world suffered first because of us!   Not because He had to, but because He wanted to.   For if one does not love, why would one choose to suffer?   Suffering is of itself a spiritual growth.    For suffering is God calling us to draw closer to Him.   He loves us so much that He wants a personal friendship with each of  us.   However, it is typical for the ‘flesh’ to curse God in these instances.    For the person that has not come to know Christ finds it difficult to discern this ‘thinking’.    For God does not think or reason as we do.    God, Our Heavenly Father is concerned for the soul.   Ours souls are from Him of Him and because of Him; and therefore He is constantly leading us to Him.    However contrary it may seem, this is indeed the case.   When we consult the scriptures we find the answers to our living in this life.    Whether we believe or agree with the circumstances or not, they being as they are,  are happening so we may attain eternity with God.   This can only be achieved in proving our faithfulness to the Father who loves us and gave us life!

Having never been blessed with great ability to achieve ‘A’s in school, I can assure you tests have never been to my likeing.    However, they are, and always will be a part of this life.

We can walk through this life believing we have it made.   Money, is constant, health is perfect, children are beautiful, the grandchildren are gifted, and the parents are loving.   Yet, in all of this God is watching, and He decides upon the greatest trial and when.

If you have a most beautiful child, a daughter whom everyone compliments you on and is so very gifted, and then she becomes so ill, she is about to die where will you turn?    Do you believe God does not love you?   Do you curse God?   This journey we are on is different for each of us.   It is the majesty of God that ordains this.   He can in a heartbeat change and turn our world upside down.

This happened to me!  I can assure you, any trial whether we want it or not, God decides.   In my case it was ‘encephalitis’. (1959)     If you know anything you know this is a disease there is no cure for and life will most certainly be over.    Yet in it all God was and is constant.    For the changing of a family occurs when a child is dying.    The experience  put me in a coma.    This was one month long.   It and its experience remain with me today.    I share this with you that you may believe.   For God is lovely.   He does not requite us for our sins but loves us because of them.    He knows all and is all, and because of all He waits.   He waits for each of us to come to Him, call upon Him and trust Him.    For though it may seem most unkind most unloving, His resolve proves itself through our faithfulness to Him.

We can only experience the growth and magnifisense of God is choosing to trust.   This is the ‘test’ He presents to each of us.

For in the scripture of ‘First Corinthians’ Chapter 10 verses 10-13

10)”Nor are you to grumble as some of them did, to be killed by the destroying angel.   11)The things that happen to them serve as an example.   They have been written as a warning to us, upon whom the end of ages has come.   12)_For all these reasons, let anyone who thinks he is standing upright watch out lest he fall! 13)  No test has been sent you that does not come to all men.   Besides, God keeps his promise.   He will not let you be tested beyond your strength.   Along with the test he will give you a way out of it  so that you may be able to endure it.”

So, why is it I lived, when so many die with this, even today?   That can only be answered by God.    Yet, I can tell you my family being Roman Catholic, prayed the rosary, and kept vigil that I would live.   This was done, by my Grandmother, Mother and Aunt.    (The Rosary is a series of prayers said on a strand of beades to the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession, to Our Lord.)    God decides who will live, who will die.   He also decides who the person will be.   For I was different after the illness.  (I AM TOLD.)   God did this.  For the ‘learning’ of everything all over again, was His desire.   For you know as I, He could have done it differently, but He has a master plan and His way is the only way.  

For God chose to make things much more difficult, by the learning and understanding and the result of after effects  of the illness.    His design for my life is because of His love for me.   For I know His presence in my life is there because I believe in His great love for me, and that only because of His great love am I here at all!