My Anniversary

Today is my anniversary. Twelve years ago today, the bottom dropped out and my world flipped upside down.

When the doctor came into the exam room and told me I had to go to the hospital or I would be dead within a week, I was shocked. As a 17 year old, you don't expect to hear that. I knew I was sick, I just didn't know I was that sick. It scared me. It had been a miserable couple of months, and that day was the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back."

I ended up spending a week in the hospital - undergoing tests, having blood drawn, IVs stuck in me constantly, and a blood transfusion as well. But in the midst of all the misery, God still showed Himself strong on my behalf. There were a couple of times when something, seemingly small, happened or was said that showed me God had not abandoned me. After that, when I struggled with depression, He still never gave up or left me. He was always there for me.

I have made plenty of mistakes since then that I seriously regret. He has proved time and time again that He will never give up on me, even if I give up on myself. He has proved His love for me. He has forgiven me for all of those mistakes and has renewed my hope for the future.

Without Him, I would not be here today. So today is my anniversary...not for the bad things that happened, but for the good that has come out of them.