Nina

I had the great honor and pleasure to sit and talk with an extraordinary young woman named Nina (pronounced with a long "i" - nine-na).  Nina had used precious vacation time to attend every single day of Mom and Dad's trial.  At least one of her parents attended all of the hearings leading up to the trial and Nina had attended hearings when she could.

I spoke with her briefly during the trial but did not have an opportunity for a longer conversation.  You see, she had been married to Jose, the man convicted of killing Mom and Dad.  She had two precious children with him.  And she was deathly afraid of him.  He had become abusive toward her even while she was still pregnant.  But it was not until he threatened the life of their young son that she knew she had to leave him.  She said she could take the beatings he had for her but she could never stand for him to be abusive to their children.

I had felt for many months that I needed to sit and talk to her face to face.  I knew God was placing this on my heart.  I thought it was because I needed to know more about Jose.  The only problem was she lived in Springfield, MO and I was in Springfield, IL.  A long five hour drive separated us.  I could not seem to find time to make the trip and so finally decided to just set time aside and come.

I contacted Nina and she was very open to meeting with me.  She said, "Name the time and the place and I will be there." Wow!  She is a single mom of two children who works nights.  Her response was amazing to me!  We decided to meet at a Starbucks and although I arrived a few minutes early, she was already there.

She was very open and honest with me.  She did not balk at any of my questions.  As we talked I realized I did not need to know more about Jose.  I needed to know more about Nina.  Although I did learn a lot of things about Jose that I had wondered about, I learned much more about Nina and what an extraordinary young woman and mother she was.

Even though she never had the pleasure of meeting Mom and Dad, she was forever affected by their deaths.  Through tears, she told me she somehow felt responsible for their deaths.  If only she had been able to help Jose...  If only...  I have had a lot of "if only" thoughts, too.  I had to share a bit of my story with Nina and I hope it helps her to know that we are only responsible for ourselves.  It was not Nina's job to help Jose.  She could not fix him.  She did what she had to do to protect her children.  That was enough.

Nina was contacted by reporters throughout the whole ordeal after Jose was arrested for Mom and Dad's murders.  She refused to speak with them saying it was not her story to tell, it was our story.  But our stories intersect.  Yes, her story is different from mine but it touches mine.  She does have a story to tell.

I know she is struggling with life and facing many problems as a single mother doing her best to provide for their needs.  She is diving head long into all her issues and handling them in the best way she can.  She deeply loves her children and will do anything for them.  I encourage her to tell her story because her story will help someone else just as my story helps others. 

And the same is true of your story!

This, after all, is what Paul was talking about in his second letter to the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 1:4 (The Passion Translation)

He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial.  We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us.

We can all know that our suffering has a purpose!  Does that not thrill your soul?  We all have suffering but what will you do with yours?  Will you try to hide it?  Will you wallow in self-pity?  Or will you give it to God and allow him to use it for His glory?  To help someone else who is suffering in the same way that you have suffered? 

Will you have the courage to tell your story?

I just have to end with the Scripture that has been on my heart since my brother, Dave called to tell me Mom and Dad had been murdered seven years ago.

Genesis 50:20 (New Living Translation)

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.  He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Satan thought he had the last laugh when Mom and Dad lie dead on the floor of their own home but, no, God had an even greater purpose!!  God is using it all for good!  He is saving the lives of many people.

If you remember from earlier posts, Mom's last word to me was simply this:

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah, indeed, Mom!!