I believe everyone deserves some background information on the author in which they choose to read their work. Therefore, I would like to briefly describe my life and journey with Christ as my Savior and Refuge. However, I do not wish to center the focus on myself as I truly feel that I must decrease, and He must increase. That is not to say I do not appreciate the life God has given me, but quite the contrary, I praise Him daily for having preserved me for another day to do His work.
As a child, one of the most beautiful images was seeing my mother knelt on a hard floor praying quietly to an old and tattered image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The room was dark, and his image was lit by candles which burned brightly only adding to the beauty of the moment. I can still recall the scent of the room. The candles emitted an amora that felt inviting. I thought to myself, I want to have the faith of my mother one day and love Jesus as she loved Him. I knew then that I would commit myself to His Holy Will and plan for my life even at an early age.
However, this commitment would be greatly tested into the fire and temptation of life. You see, I was what is referred to as a “Cradle Catholic.” I had been baptized in the faith and had received Holy Communion. We attempted to attend Mass every Sunday and participate in reconciliation twice a year before Christmas and Easter. Yet, my home life and school life were extremely challenging. Nevertheless, the Holy presence of God was felt in my heart each night. In particular, I felt His presence more as I would somberly cry myself to sleep, not just as a child, but in the solitude that accompanied my life as a military spouse. These were extremely trying times, bringing me to my knees and bringing me to the boiling point of no return. Yet, He loved me still, despite my anger, my frustration, my impatience with Him. I often complained asking. “Why me!”
This question delivered great pause to me. I would ask myself, “Perhaps God was trying to speak and reach me through my suffering?” As such, it would take 20 years of darkness in my life before realizing the mastery of His precision in His timing of my gifts and experiences that would ultimately lead me to this page and my immense love for all humanity. I hope these words and pages you read can bring you great understanding, knowledge, grace, and comfort through His words regardless of your challenges. Perhaps we can change the life question from, “Why me? to Why NOT me?”
O Lord let me be a vessel of your love for the world, an ear to hear the cries, a hand to help the poor and suffering, and a heart to give all that I have. You who walked in the desert for 40 days, strengthen us. Let us not waste time looking back on things we cannot change but let us place our trust in You as we walk towards Your Kingdom. by Isabel Anderson
Love thy neighbor as thyself 