my grit, His glory
October 19, 2009
I’m starting to share my story tomorrow.
After almost a year since it began unfolding, I think I should feel more ready than I do. But I’m not sure I’ll ever feel ready. How do I sum up the deepest pain, grief, and loss of my life in mere syllables?
I can’t.
But I will try.
I can’t wait until I can look back on all of this and see mostly glory. Right now, it’s still mostly grit.
But I can honestly say (finally) that I know He is glorified in my grit. Which astounds me. And humbles me.
And makes me feel as ready as I’ll ever be to share my story.
Because I know it’s really His story.
He is carrying you!! I know He is will make beauty out of the ashes…or grit. :) I look forward to knowing how to pray for you better.
Love and hugs.
praying you through this. mucho, mucho love!
@gritandglory says:
confession: i read that in the “mucho take it easy” voice. ha!
@cassgirl says:
As the you write my toes are touching the fringe of the wave.
(like they have been all year long)
@moweezle says:
I will be praying for you, and know I am sooooo proud of you for sharing it with EVERYONE!!!
That’s huge, Alece!
Love you!
Another reassurance that you are constantly in my prayers
I love you, and I’ll be here as you step out.
can i just say i love you.
and this reminded me of my post :), God writes our stories out mammabird.
and it’s all for his glory and most of all that everything happens for a reason.
it’s a scary thought to grasp; but God walks it out with us in the end so it all works out.
and God will still be walking it out next to us holding our hands through the whole THING.
i loveeeeee you mammmabird <3
it’s going to be an amazing story when He unfolds how it’ll glorify Him more than you could ever imagine! prayin for you.
@gritandglory says:
i’m beyond inviting Him to be part of my story. i just want Him to use me in His story, to glorify Him and point others toward His face.
let me just say that i’m praying for you.
and i’m really proud of you.
and quite thankful that you are so transparent and willing to share you life with all of us.
you have affected my life even though we have only met once.
so, thanks.
@gritandglory says:
that means more than you know…
I know you’ll humbly disagree, but you have so much courage and bravery. Praying for you pretty lady :)
@gritandglory says:
i struggle with that one. but i don’t take your words lightly.
Very proud of you.
And am praying for you.
@mallyflip says:
I am so proud of you. I don’t think that I would ever be able to share that. But, God will use this for His glory. I just want to say thanks for sending me that letter. As much as it made me sad, it made me happy that God gave you the strength to be able to write that. I am praying for you and I will be supporting you very soon! :)
@gritandglory says:
you’re family.
you deserved to hear it straight from me.
@gritandglory says:
PS – what happened to your blog??
@mallyflip says:
uh… it still should be there.
@gritandglory says:
oh weird. the link didn’t work before!
I will be praying and believing that as you open up and spill, He will be refilling you and pouring in the Oil and the Wine.
@gritandglory says:
i may be pouring the wine, too. :)
in all seriousness — thank you for your prayers.
I don’t have much to say that hasn’t been said already. Each new day, I find myself mourning less of what was and more excited for what will be…. I know it won’t be easy, but I am confident that it will be.
Love you…
@gritandglory says:
i honestly feel the same. mourning less, anticipating more.
some days it still flips back the other way, but in general… you know.
@chrystieecole says:
I will be praying for you. I know much will come of your willingness to step out and share and be authentic. Sharing the grit, will bring Him glory. Proud of you!
Praying for you…
@atangie says:
You are something fantabulous!!! I am curious to know as to what caused you to choose Tuesday, October 20, 2009 to make this more ‘public’ than it has been yet. You just do your thing, girl. :-) I am soooooo proud of you!
i think it’s because the 20th is a magic day. so many momentous 20th’s, like my birthday. grin.
but, really… i’m so proud of her, too.
@bahava says:
I am SO proud of you for being willing to share your story and be transparent, honest, raw, and real through it all. I just want to say that you are such an inspiration to me and I love hearing your heart even if it is only through words on the screen. You have touched me so much this year (and before! I mean I’m at Thrive because I read your blog!) and I am so excited to see Him bring glory and work out all things for good because He is that good and His hands are the hands of a healer. Praying for you throughout all of this!
@gritandglory says:
i talk about you often. i love that you’re on the mission field, with thrive!, because of the Grit. seriously.
thank you for your sweet, sweet words…
i don’t know you. but i have been reading your blog. and God has just put you on my heart. like big time. God has a great plan. He has a great plan for you every second of tomorrow and every second of the days after that. I can’t even begin to comprehend your pain and grief. But your transparency through all of this has just been such a blessing to me. I cannot thank you enough. Things are going to get better. God hasn’t forgotten his plan. He hasn’t forgotten you. I am praying for you from the bottom of my heart. – <3,coop
@gritandglory says:
your comment meant so much to me. that a “stranger” has been praying for me is… overwhelming to say the least. (in a good way…)
thank you for making me feel seen and loved — by Him and by His people.
I’m really proud of you. Grace and strength to you in Jesus.
I’m gonna echo coop. I can’t remember for the life of me how I found your blog, but so often I have found your thoughts challenging and healing. Thanks friend.
Praying Isaiah 61:3 on your behalf.
@gritandglory says:
i LOVE isaiah 61. that’s been “my” passage for years now. thank you!
@traceepersiko says:
Friend, you have been amazing in character, integrity, rawness, honesty, softness of heart..and just being you.
God is making life out of you. I can’t wait to see how much more life he will make out of your broken bread like life. I am so thankful to and for you. you make me rich.
in grief, you might not feel like yourself is still in there, but you are becoming more yourself then you know. i LOVE knowing you.
@gritandglory says:
thank you, as always, for your heart for me… i never take that lightly.
I’m holding your hand, squeezing my eyes tightly shut…and waiting for the ride…. wherever it will take us! Love you dearly, friend!
tell it Alece…..let it pour out. Let the body (me the pinky toe) minister to you….to encouage and uplift.
im here…
Storie
we’re all jumpin in to the freezin cold water. get readty,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
set………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
GO!!!
hey, alece. you don’t know me, but i randomly came across your blog. i’m a friend of your brother’s, mike. i was just reading over your page and i’m so sorry to read of the rough times you’ve been going through. you are in my thoughts and prayers.
@gritandglory says:
thanks for coming by the Grit.
how do you know mike?
he worked at a church in md, which is where i live. and this might be weird, but i think we were actually on the same mission trip (nicaragua ’93), but were on different teams. small world!
@gritandglory says:
i’ve heard him talk about you. and i remember that we were in nicaragua together. (did you know anna siegel?? she’s another friend from that trip i recently reconnected with.)
yes! anna was on my team! how is she doing?
@gritandglory says:
great! she lives in alexandria, VA — so not too far from you. i just had lunch with her when i was in town this past week.
if you want to give her a shout-out, her blog is http://www.annasjoyblog.blogspot.com/
we’ve stayed in touch off and on all these years, and saw each other in july for the first time in over a decade. and now i’ve seen her twice in three months! love it!
Taking a deep breath with you. We are carrying you friend!
You have some BIG *fleece e-hugs* coming to you from California.
Take your time lady – and when you’re ready, we will be here supporting you every step of the way.
(It must have been incredibly difficult to send out that ministry letter letting everyone know what is going on. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard that was. But my husband and I are standing in faith that the glory will overcome the grit and that He will be glorified through this).
We love you!
@gritandglory says:
mmmm… thank you!
sassafrass… He has given you everything you need. Just take a deep breath and know how loved you are. Praying for you and am proud of all you are and all you will be.
LOVE LOVE LOVE you.
Oh Alece I just love you to pieces … looking forward to the day I can hug you in person. Know I will be praying tonight and tomorrow. SO PROUD OF YOU! Of course, I couldn’t be nearly as proud as our Heavenly Father who is beaming! Your story will touch so many lives for Him. Love you!
Something about sharing a persons story takes what satan meant to be hurtful and shameful and fills it with God’s light and love and strength – not sure how He does that but I’m thankful that’s how He rolls. I’ll be praying that He guides your fingers as you type it out so that all who read it will be encouraged by what He is doing in/through you and that with every keystroke, your heart is filled with His perfect love and healing.
@gritandglory says:
thank you for commenting again. it encourages my heart…
I’m praying…hope to be as brave as you…someday.
Wowzers your a loved, admired, cared for and respected woman! =)
I love that so many “I don’t know you” comments have been posted.
Iloveyou!
@gritandglory says:
and i love that i know YOU.
love you!! there has already been so much glory from your grit. praying for you and praying for those who will read your story for the first time. that they will come to know the healing power of your Jesus!!
@nateonamission says:
I just have to say amen to this! I can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do! His GLORY is going to shine through you radiantly for sure! He is doing amazing things through you, Alece! Look at how many lives he has touched through you! I’m praying for you. I know this is nowhere close to easy. I know that no words can truly make things better or easier. Only He has the power and love to do that :)
@tamhodge says:
i am so proud of you.
Alece,
This is the day. God’s with you as always.
Linda
I can’t wait to see how you unfold.
Dear Alece, I’m sorry you haven’t heard from me in a while, what with this whole move thing going on. I will be in touch soon.
As I read this post, 2 Cor. 4:7 came to mind: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”
So many are standing with, around, and beside you, holding your heart and your hands. And lifting up your arms like Aaron and Hur.
You are loved. You are seen. You are prayed for, maybe like you never have been before.
@knights_lady says:
for the JOY set before you…this HOPE does not disappoint
Let’s do this thing. C’mon.
Love you.
you are very brave. love you, friend.
((((hugs)))) filled with so much love, Alece.