All Things Beautiful

By Vivian Germain

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

What does this mean in my own life? I was 3 months old when both of my parents decided to give me away to my Grandma. My mother did not want to raise a girl and my father, well my father didn’t care for children at all.

From the beginning of my life, it was like someone had put a “rejected” stamp on my forehead. I grew up believing that no one loved me or wanted me. My father’s sister took it upon herself to provide and care for me. She sent me to private school, bought me good clothes and tried to make me feel like I belonged to her.

Despite all of her efforts, I grew up with low self-esteem, a poor self-image and a whole lot of insecurities. My behavior proved how broken I was and how desperate I was to find someone to love me and would never leave me.

I always believed in God and there wasn’t any doubt in my mind that He was the creator, the Alpha and the Omega, but in my situation He was just too far to be reached. He wasn’t guilty for my hurt nor would I let Him be the solution for my pain. The truth was I didn’t know Him.

I was 23 years old, broken and pregnant, when I ran to God and decided to accept His love, forgiveness and guidance. He became the father and mother I never had. Psalm 27:10 says, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.” This has been the reality of my life since I received Christ. He has surely shown me the blessings in my situation.

Today, I can certainly say that I’m grateful God spared me from being raised by two drunkards. He gave me a sense of family through my aunt and I am blessed beyond compare. I have an incredible husband that is compassionate and loving, and three beautiful children that fill my heart with joy. I know that God wasn’t just sitting there looking at the injustice that was being done in my life. He knew and He cared. He has made everything beautiful in its time.

When bad things happen to you, whether they are caused by your poor choices or life has dealt you a bad hand, God can turn it around, restore your life and give you more than you can ever imagine. You just have to come to Him. He is waiting with open arms for you!