Today is Don's birthday. For those of who don't know, Don is my husband. He and I are in the process of divorcing. In February we separated and in April he filed for divorce. We have been married over 17 years. This is not a place where I ever wanted to be. Single. Mom. Sick. Sad. Disappointed. You know what I'm sayin'.
But I'm not dwelling on that today. It's just a bit after midnight and I want to start this day by acknowledging his birthday. The firsts are hard. And this is the first birthday of Don's that I have not celebrated with him since 1990. I won't physically be with him today but I do want to pray a special birthday blessing over him. The kids probably won't call him and that makes me terribly sad for him. Many say that he doesn't deserve a phone call but I cannot imagine the pain he feels (no matter who brought it on).
Father, Don is loved by you as much as you love anyone else. You desire a real relationship with him. His pain is not something that goes unnoticed by you. Today, I just ask you to meet him at his deepest need. Bless him, Lord. Just pour out your blessings on him. Make it so clear that it is you that he cannot question. Prompt the kids if they should call. May they take the iniative and do what they know is the right and loving thing to do. Father thank you for taking any bitterness that may have started to take root and yanking it from my heart. You know my love for Don is a love of deep compassion mixed with so many other emotions. But this is not about me and our marriage. It's not about the "what if" and the "I don't want to", Lord I am praying for him because that is what you call me to do. Father, I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give Don the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that he may know you better. I pray also that the eyes of Don's heart may be enlightened in order that he may know the hope to which you have called him. (Eph 1:17-18) What greater gift could Don receive this year than to really know YOU. Take me out of this. Lord, you have your way in his life. Come to him Jesus and bless him. I love you and I pray these things in your Son's name. Amen
Happy Birthday, Don!
Monday, October 6, 2008
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27 comments:
hi. i wanted to thank you for your visit and comment today from BATW. thanks!
illahee
You continue to amaze me with your compassion and love, where there should be hurt and anger. It has been a blessing to see God work thru you these past several months. That was beautiful. Praying for all of you!
Melissa
Yes...I, too, am amazed at your compassion & love...what an example for the rest of us as we face similar situations.
Wishing you a Happy Monday & a wonderful week, Sheryl!
Hugs,
Michelle
God bless you, Sheryl. May He heap blessings not only on Don, on this day of his birth, but on YOU and YOURS as you doggedly trudge ahead in obedience.
I'm so inspired by your heart.
Hugs,
Melinda
What a post!! Your heart in forgiving is what God Loves the most.
I am praying for you and your children, I hope you have a blessed week.
Hugggs to you
Sharon
Sheryl,
Today I join you in your prayer for Don. That he would truly come to know his "First Love". Thank you for your transparency and your compassion is amazing. Praying also for you and Ellie and David today. The "firsts" are always sad and a little hard.
I do love you so...
Kimberly
Hi Sheryl, I linked over from a comment you made on BATW. Your post today took my emotions many different directions. Please know that I am praying with you today.
Heavenly Father,
Make this a very special birthday for Don. May he feel your unmistakeable presence. Lord be with Don because he is YOUR beloved child and for no other reason.
Healer God, please be especially close to David and Ellie today and help them set aside their anger and disappointment and be kind to Don just because he is their father.
Lord Jesus, thank you for my friend Sheryl. May the blessings she continually pours out on others rain down on her today as a refreshing shower of love and healing.
We love you Father. Amen
LINDA
Blessings to you my friend! You will be blessed as you give to your husband in more ways than you can imagine.
I love you to the stars
Kim
God bless you Sheryl! Praying for Don too.
Suzanne :)
Beautiful prayer and beautiful heart! May you feel loved today as you celebrate Don's birthday!
Love,
Nicole
What a beautiful post and prayer. My heart felt your pain and pondered on what God's mighty Hand will do to reach this man He loves. I can understand your children's hurt . I can't help but to wonder if many times in all of our lives, we have to step out of what we want to do and into what God can use if we just follow Him. I pray with you that your children will continue to lean upon the Lord and the Lord would instruct them when and how to act and love on their earthly father.
It is only by our love that these prodigals will be reached. God will use that love and His power to reach and teach the swayard.
Love,
Paula
Oh, about firsts...they are VERY difficult. I know. I'm approaching my second Thanksgiving and Christmas and I already feel the dread. My mom is talking about plans and I just want to say "who cares". I don't want to even think about the holidays again. I wish we could just skip to January. My beloved's birthday is 12/31 and that being a "holiday" and his birthday it is always hard. I think it will be harder for me actually this year...
The distance and long space in time makes it harder because it stretches my faith to wonder what God is doing and will do. Satan wants to tempt us to believe God is not doing anything.
Love again,
P
Praying for Don today as well. Thank you for continually being an example of how Christ wants us to love others.
Blessings!
Awww, what a beautiful prayer. I hope that this is a day of new beginnings for Don.
Love
Denise in TX
that is nothing but the love of God. Sheryl you are an amazing women. God Bless you
Sheryl,
A beautiful and healing prayer!
I feel your pain and struggle with your children. My daughter has gone through years of anger and unforgiveness and now is finding some compassion torward her father. The harder I pushed her toward the right thing to do the worse it was for all of us. As scary as it was, I had to back off and let her go through the process. (And pray like crazy!!!) Praise God she is in tight with an awesome youth group at church and the youth pastor is a great example of a godly man. I pray your kids will also find mentors to fill the gap.
Amen, Father, amen!!!
May you bless Sheryl for her obedience, and her sweet children because of her love for you!!
I pray your husband will be overwhelmed by the prayers offered up for him on his birthday and that his heart will be changed!
Hi Sheryl, Sometimes its hard to pray for the people who've hurt you. But knowing thats what GOD would want us to do makes it easier. Many times I have to tell the Lord that I don't have the good feelings I'm suppose to have,He loves me anyway and works me through it. May God continue a good work in you. Love Karen
Dearest Sheryl, myheart goes out to you.
My younger sister 's marriage almost collapsed becasue of her husband 's infidelity, they are living together as strangers for the sake of thekids. So i canunderstand what this is.
I am so sorry that you are going through such a tough time. Your prayer reveals your heart and I know God will bless you in ways unexpected as your journey through this new season in your life.
So impressed with your maturity in all of this! You are precious! I love you in the Lord, and I thank you for your prayers for my son and for me! You always make me smile with your sweet posts! Have a wonderful Thursday! Love, tammy
I will stop by more often!
Hey there~
I wanted to say that I think it's GREAT that you "celebrated" your husband's birthday. I can only imagine how difficult it was for you. My perspective is a little different (my life & my losses compared to you and yours) but I know that whatever it is that we're celebrating the first time without someone we love.. well, it's just hard! Sometimes life stinks like that.
At any rate.. I think it's great that you're still praying for him. Your children will hopefully, eventually, follow your lead. (They'll respect YOU more in the end for the GODLY example you're setting)
I guess all of that to say that I'm proud of you for the wife/mother that you are.
Hang in there, Sister!
That is a wonderful prayer for your husband, especially considering the circumstances.
I have to admit that on my former (I hate the word ex) husband's birthday I take a spa day. It's a present to myself and represents the steps away from the past and celebrates my future.
Hi Sadie,
Thanks for stopping by my blog. And, thank you for your kind comments.
I tried to comment on the post you wrote today but couldn't. Just fyi. The post you had today reminded me of one of my most favorite, thought provoking books, God Calling. It's a daily devotional. I don't still have the book but there was a date in May that talks about being dead to self. If we are dead to self, then we don't feel hurt when others direct it at us, or pride or anger. We're dead.
Yep. We're dead, but never more alive than now. Thank you, Sadie (Sheryl).
Joy on your journey. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts.
Awed,
Lila (Susan)
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