Freedom.....

I recently took a trip to my home town in Florida. Lately going home has been such a blessing to me. It restores my heart every time I go. This was the first time I went without my kids, other than when Mary died and that was not a good trip. As I was there I got to thinking about being free......what that really means to Paula. For the first time in my life I am understanding freedom in more and more ways. See, on this trip I was 'free' from having to be mom, just to be able to enjoy the beach, my home church, and my friends there. I was free to enjoy the place that has so many memories, both good and bad, and not think about anything but that moment in time. I didn't dread coming, like in the past, because this time I didn't dread leaving. I just enjoyed being.


God has shown me what freedom is lately. Showing me little by little what being free in Him means. Being free means to me----that is OK to tell the world I was a victim of a child molester. Free from the hurt, free from the guilt, free from the anger, and free from all the lies an act like that tells you all your life. I am free to talk about it with my head held high knowing what Satan meant to kill me with, God has saved me from and will use for GOOD! God has taught me I will never fit into some one's box. I am free to rest in HIM, to love through HIM, to cry on HIM, to laugh with HIM, to be different because of HIM, to be blessed by HIM, to play with HIM, and to put my hands in the air and surrender all to HIM! I am free to make mistakes, free to say I'm sorry, free to try again, free to fail at something, free to get back up again, free to say I don't understand, free to cry, free to laugh, free to smile, free to love and free to hurt. I am free.....because John 8:36 says "So if the Son has set you free, you will be free indeed." !!! Jesus has set me free and when I trust in HIM, He shows me more freedom. Freedom---not to do what I want to do----but freedom----to be all HE wants me to be----freedom----to have all HE died to give me----you see freedom is not free but the price has been paid for you and me.


I thank you, Lord for the freedom I understand and the freedom that is yet to come.......