We were in the bathroom in front of the floor-length mirror, putting the finishing touches on my sister's wedding hair and make-up, fastening the last few buttons of the dress, and singing our well-wishes and praises for her wedding day glow. My mother and I stood behind my little sister as we looked at her radiant face and marveled at her vibrancy—at her life.
Only one year prior, I was visiting her at the in-patient eating disorder facility, looking at her slight frame and tired eyes, and wondering if she was going to survive. Though the details of her eating disorder is her story to share, as her loved one, I watched my sister struggle under the crushing grip of her eating disorder for over half of her life. My little sister, whom I love more than my own life, was wasting away before my eyes and I had never been so scared.
Those weeks were filled with fear and rage and screaming and crying and pleading with God to save her life.
But here we were, a year later, watching her on her wedding day while she married her high-school sweetheart. Alongside a team of doctors, therapists, dieticians, and family support, she has bravely worked through recovery and was beautiful and completely ALIVE on her wedding day.
My daughter sprinkled flower petals and my father and sister walked arm-in-arm while we marveled at the glory of God for that moment (see Ezekiel 43:2). While recovery is a journey and never a destination, I saw her hard work and the miracle of life on full display that day.
The glory of the Lord surely dwelled in the land on that day. His glory is for you, too, sister. He gives us His benefits, as we hear in the Psalm, and doesn't hold back, even and especially in the hard times.
His glory is for you, too. // @Substance_SoulClick to tweet
Do you pray the Psalms regularly? Consider learning how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
Dr. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm is a wife and mom to four little ones and practices dentistry at a public health community center for low income families in the Bay Area, California. She (unashamedly) thinks ice cream is its own food group and does not leave the house without wearing sparkly earrings. She was a contributing author to All She Had. and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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