A friend said to me recently, "Robbie, you have never lacked for vision." That was her response to our conversation about Josiah's Blessings. I was sharing with her my vision for the future of the store, my dream for the impact we can have on families here in America and around the world.
I thought again of what she said today, "Robbie, you have never lacked for vision."
What struck me this afternoon, though, is that I had lost my vision. The divorce was H.A.R.D. When we were in the process of adopting the boys, and I saw my family falling apart, I began to lose my vision.
When the LORD spoke His will LOUDLY through an anonymous $25,000 gift to complete the boys' adoption, I felt His promise that my family would be healed. Then, after the boys came home and my marriage fell apart, I didn't know what to think. I held onto His promises, knowing that my Redeemer is faithful and true, that He will never forsake His children, but my vision was clouded.
I walked through the day to day parenting of my children, so thankful for my blessings. I was broken, though. I was tired. I was injured. The LORD was healing my heart, drawing me to Him. And, during that time I was forced to slow down and let Him minister to me, forced to allow others to minister to me. My vision was very near-sighted. I could only see what the LORD was doing daily.
But, God! He is so faithful to His promise to give beauty for ashes and gladness for mourning. The LORD has indeed healed my heart and healed our family in a way I never could have imagined. I sit here this rainy afternoon in Connecticut, visiting my son Caleb and his wife Casie. In the room next to me is my new husband and my four youngest children. Our family is complete with a husband and a step-dad who loves the LORD first, loves and cherishes me, and loves my children.
My vision for the future has been restored by the God of Restoration.
But what about others around the world, those in poverty, those who hunger, those who are held captive against their will. What about the young girls forced into the sex industry or others who are enslaved?
I listened to one young girl tell of her life in a brothel in Asia. She had no hope for the future. She surely had no vision. I read of a woman whose sister had died, living behind a newborn daughter. Though her family had barely enough to eat, she took the baby home with her. I wonder what her vision for the future would be. And, what of the young woman whose husband left her, who was living under a bridge, who was so desperate she asked the American lady to help her find an orphanage for her youngest two children?
It might seem hopeless.
But God!
I believe God is inviting us to join Him in the work He wants to do in the lives of those who have no vision. I know that His son died that we might have life and life abundantly. I do not believe there is no hope!
We have the opportunity to help break the cycle of poverty, to enable and empower moms and dads to support their families with dignity.
Your purchases at Josiah's Blessings will offer an income with dignity to those in poverty in Haiti and those rescued from the sex industry in Asia. Other purchases will invest in communities in India promoting self-sufficiency rather than dependency. Still others will enable single moms in Kenya to support their children with disabilities.
Won't you join us?
Be a part of the restoring vision to those who have lost hope.
Ribbon Cutting: April 21, 4:00PM
Grand Opening: Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23
