begin with love

Tears of Sadness to Tears of Joy

God would then orchestrate a series of opportunities for Michelle to restore her broken relationships in her family.

She shares, “Jesus loved us first while we were still sinners, even before we could give or receive love. I saw how Jesus got hurt but was still willing to love others, and also chose to receive me despite all that I did.  I began to see that my mom had pains she never knew how to manage as she did not have Him in her life. Forgiving her first, like Jesus did, was the first thing I could do.”

Prompted by the Spirit, Michelle spontaneously decided to hug her mother during a car journey. This touched her mother greatly, and her act of faith broke down the walls that had been built over the years.

And when her family unexpectedly threw her a 21st birthday party a couple of months later, her dad even publicly declared his delight for Michelle in front of everyone, despite all that had happened. She responded by acknowledging him in front of everyone too.

“I was in tears, and just hugged him and told him I loved him too. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, I felt accepted by my heavenly Father, my earthly Father and my household. I even had a big party for me!”, she exclaims.

This experience was even more precious to her, as it occurred not long after she had decided to be honest with her staunchly-Buddhist Dad that she was a Christian, even though she knew he would be unhappy. 

Michelle was also convicted by the Spirit that she could no longer harbour the bitterness she had towards one of her sisters.

“One day, I just poured out the pain I had suppressed for years, and just crying it out brought healing to my soul. With the issues brought into the light, we both apologised to each other and the relationship was restored,” she adds.

Indeed, weeping stays for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning! 

Life Abundant Abandoned

These days, Michelle enjoys a much stronger relationship with her family and friends.

“I no longer find it tough to express my love to my family members. My desire is to one day pray and worship God together with them, as they are not yet believers.”

For her, what the enemy had meant for evil, God has used for good (Gen 50:20). Indeed, let’s continue to believe that He is faithful and able to restore our relationships – even the years we think the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25)!