God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathways to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
-Reinhold Niebuhr
Two years ago I had my world turned upside down when my dad told my younger brother and I that we had a half-sister who is two years older than me. I was so angry, hurt, disappointed and felt like I didn't really know my dad. I did not speak to him for a long time and when I finally did it always felt strained.
Recently, I have seen so many things that have made me stop and really look at what is important in life. The Serenity Prayer kept popping into my head, not only was I thinking of these words I was also reminded of something that I had seen on Facebook, "Life is like a roller-coaster, it takes you up and down, has some twists and turns and flips you when you least expect it. How you handle the ride is what matters!"
Even though I kept saying to myself and others "It is was it is and there is nothing that I can do about it." I did not really believe it. I was still hoping it was a bad joke or would just go away. Well, I am here to tell you that it didn't happen.
I could continue to act like a wounded child and cry foul or I could grow up and act like an adult and trust in God to show me the right path to take. That was easy... no, it really wasn't. I wondered if I could really just let it go and move on with my life. The answers I was seeking came in an email from a friend.
"God does not give you the people you want,
he gives you the people you need to help you,
to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and
to make you the person you were meant to be."
Ok, I guess that finding out I have a sister was not the end of the world, I survived. Perhaps if I open the door in the wall that I have built up around myself and let my sister in then maybe we could be friends.
I am no longer angry, hurt or disappointed with my dad. I understand why he kept this secret from us and have forgiven him for it. I am also happy that he was able to find his daughter. I love my dad very much and hope that he can establish the same relationship he has with my brother and I with his daughter, my sister, Amy.
It has taken me a long time to get to this point and I hope that it's not too late to establish a friendship with my sister.
Cast all your anxiety
on him because he
cares for you.
1 Peters 5:7
