beauty for ashes.

Family Weekend in the Girls' House is upon us.  Every six months, the parents are all invited to come to Shelterwood at the same time.  It creates a sort of comradery among the parents when they commune with others who understand their situation.  Not only do they understand, they are each experiencing the same separation from their child that will enhance growth in both parties.  A separation that is painful.  And necessary.

Meeting these parents not only clarifies things about their daughters, but it also gives insight into the world of parenting.  As if nannying wasn't enough, I get a glimpse into this world through the eyes of the parents as we eat meals together.  My goodness, it's heartbreaking to see the hurt, the brokenness, in each of these parents as they must come to place where they say "I can't do it anymore.  I can't parent my child, so I need to send her away."  -- a humbling place, for sure.  And the parents learn.  They get counseling and learn new techniques with which to better train up their child.

And the child?  Here they are given the time and space to think through their lives, their choices, their perspectives.  They too (and they especially) learn and change, becoming more and more the beautiful women God created them to be.

I love what happens here.  Family restoration.  Redemption.  So much growth.  It doesn't come easy.

It all makes me wonder how families arrive at this point.  I mean, each family's story is different.  Each member's perspective is unique.  Yet they end up in the same place - broken at the feet of the Lord, begging for mercy, for grace, for healing, for restoration, for wholeness.

Isn't that where we all end up?

Perhaps it isn't a place to end, but a place to begin, and to remain, as God transforms us, and our lives, into the beauty he intended for them all along.

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound... to comfort those who mourn...to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness... that He might be glorified.
--Isaiah 61:1-3