Long before I was born, or even my father was, a tragic event took place in our family which could have been prevented. My grandfather's oldest sister, Jenny, was married but she couldn't conceive children. Month after agonizing month, she wept with disappointment. Her husband was angry and blamed everything on her. She wished for a child but none came.
On one particular day, after yet another disappointment, she rose early in the morning and while her husband was working at the fish plant, she baked pies and cookies and had them all laying out on the kitchen counter to cool. Then she washed and starched her husband's white shirts because he loved his white shirts. When her housework was finished she left the house and walked the foot bridge which crossed the back harbour leading into Lockeport. She went to the reservoir which wasn't far from her home. At some point, her despair gave way to action and she ended her life. Her brother, Edward, my grandfather, found her body later that day.
What a sad, sorrowful story, made even more sad by the fact that her husband later remarried and he and his second wife were never able to have children either. The problem wasn't Jenny's after all.
My grandfather had a model ship built and named it the Jenny S. in memory of his sister. My father has that boat now and I love it. Every time I see it I am reminded of a young bride who was so despondent over something that she had no control over. It reminds me that we don't always know the whole story so we shouldn't act rashly and make hasty decisions.
Only the Lord knows all. Only He knows the beginning from the end. Only He knows what our future holds and why certain things don't happen like we wish they would. We can only trust Him and rely on Him. We can trust Him to do good for us if we have put our trust in Him. We can trust Him knowing that He has a plan for our lives. He loves us with an everlasting love. He will not let us down. People will disappoint you. They will let you down. But the Lord never will. You can trust Him.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.-- Proverbs 3:5-6
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