Has it really been 4 years? Some days it seems like that fateful day was only last week. That day as I was settling back into college life after Christmas break. , half excited, half missing being home in Haiti. That day when I signed on to my computer, and received some of the worst news of my life. The news that the land I called home had their feet shook out from underneath them. That day that turned into a countless day nightmare of no sleep, dodging news crews, 24 hour news cycles, and desperately scrambling to either get to my family, or get my family to me. Yes. Some days, it feels like that nightmare was only last week.
But then I stop and look around me. I look at the things that my family has faced, the things they have conquered. I think of the tears we have shed and the laughs we have shared. I think of how many times they have moved, and how we are preparing for the biggest move in our history as a family – into a home of our very own! I think of the years of frustration and waiting and paperwork, and the rejoicing we shared when my sister finally received her Green Card. I think of the job changes, church changes, school changes, and graduations that have taken place. I think of everything that has happened in the 4 years since our lives turned upside down, and I can hardly believe it has ONLY been 4 years! Surely it should be far more?!
And through it all, the number one thing I can think is “Praise God”. I don’t know why he decided to have such mercy on my family, but I praise Him for it regardless. I don’t know why he chose that day, instead of a few days earlier when I could have been there WITH my family, and not stuck in Mississippi, but I praise Him regardless. I don’t know why some friends where lost, and others were spared, but we praise him regardless. I don’t know why so much pain had to come to usher in so much blessing, but I praise him regardless. And I know that through it all, God has truly worked everything out for our good and HIS glory! And I am so beyond thankful for that.
